A Child’s Profound Reflections on 9/11

Struggling to comprehend such violence, yet steeped in hope for the future, Mattie Stepanek penned a poem “For Our World.”

The ‘Tribute in Light’ memorial is in remembrance of the events of Sept. 11, 2001. The two towers of light are composed of two banks of high wattage spotlights that point straight up from a lot next to Ground Zero. This photo was taken from Liberty State Park, New Jersey, Sept. 11, 2006, the five-year anniversary of 9/11.
The ‘Tribute in Light’ memorial is in remembrance of the events of Sept. 11, 2001. The two towers of light are composed of two banks of high wattage spotlights that point straight up from a lot next to Ground Zero. This photo was taken from Liberty State Park, New Jersey, Sept. 11, 2006, the five-year anniversary of 9/11. (photo: Denise Gould / U.S. Air Force)

I saw the World Trade Center only once. It was 1998 or 1999. It had been a number of years since I’d visited New York City; but when our youngest son Jerry began working at an airline, I took advantage of my “parent privileges” (in those innocent pre-9/11 days, parents of employees could fly for $30/roundtrip) and the two of us set off for a day trip to the Big Apple. We planned to see the sights, visit a museum, enjoy lunch and dinner — then head back home to Michigan.

At some point — was it when our plane landed, or when we got off the subway? — I spotted the towers rising into the clouds, all but obliterating the landscape of Lower Manhattan with their twin shadows. “What Is That?!” I exclaimed — and my son, experienced traveler that he was, patiently explained that it was the tallest building in the world.

He and I were together again on the morning of September 11, 2001, when the world changed. Jerry was watching “Good Morning America” as I flitted about the house, getting ready for work. I planned to drop him off at the airport, then continue to work. “Mom,” he called — and I knew from the sound of his voice that something was wrong.

Together we stared at the TV screen, watching as the first plane hit the building. Over And over. There was not yet a policy that the moment of impact would not be shown; and so all morning, the networks broadcast planes crashing, flames exploding, people screaming, bodies falling, firemen gapin g… buildings heaving, sinking, compressing, concrete and steel girders stealing the breath from office workers and first responders and mothers with babies.

We all — all Americans — remember where we were on that day: traveling, working, enjoying breakfast with friends, washing the dishes. … Seared into our minds is that moment when we saw but couldn’t comprehend.

Mattie Stepanek, age 11, also watched the events unfold on Sept. 11, 2001. You may remember Mattie — his inspiring story has been told on countless television shows and news broadcasts. Mattie, who died in 2004, suffered from a rare disease called dysautonomic mitochondrial myopathy; but that didn’t stop him from becoming a best-selling author, a poet, and an ambassador for peace. If you’ve heard Mattie’s story, if you’ve read any of the profound poems and essays by this youngest of writers, you’ll understand why on Sept. 12, 2012, the Feast of St. Matthew the Apostle and the International Day of Peace, a guild was founded to gather information and investigate Mattie's life and virtues for the possible Cause of Canonization.

On Sept. 11, 2001, Mattie watched as some of his personal friends perished in the terrorist attacks. Struggling to comprehend such violence, yet steeped in hope for the future, Mattie penned a poem “For Our World.” Mattie’s mother, Jeni Stepanek, has expressed her hope that Mattie’s words will serve as a catalyst for changing mottos of “revenge” into credos of “rebuild.” Together, she asks that we rebuild the mosaic of humanity.

For more information about Mattie’s story and to hear Mattie deliver his message of peace, visit the Mattie Stepanek website. And here (below) is the meditation which Mattie penned that day.

For Our World

We need to stop.
Just stop.
Stop for a moment…
Before anybody
Says or does anything
That may hurt anyone else.

We need to be silent.
Just silent.
Silent for a moment…
Before we forever lose
The blessing of songs
That grow in our hearts.

We need to notice.
Just notice.
Notice for a moment…
Before the future slips away
Into ashes and dust of humility.
Stop, be silent, and notice…
In so many ways, we are the same.
Our differences are unique treasures.
We have, we are, a mosaic of gifts
To nurture, to offer, to accept.

We need to be.
Just be.
Be for a moment…
Kind and gentle, innocent and trusting,
Like children and lambs,
Never judging or vengeful
Like the judging and vengeful.
And now, let us pray,
Differently, yet together,
Before there is no earth, no life,
No chance for peace.

(© Mattie J.T. Stepanek, Sept. 11, 2001. From Hope Through Heartsongs, Hyperion, 2002)