9/12/11 and beyond

Now it's 9/12/11.

The ceremonies are over.

This is when the real work begins.

In most of the speeches you heard, you will have heard a call for unity, compassion, harmony amongst the peoples of the world.

9/11/11 was a 'matters most' moment, i.e., a moment that doesn't come around too often, so we give it our all. Though important, it's relatively easy to invoke and perhaps practice the spirit of unity on this day.

But how about 9/12? Still relatively easy.

How about 10/11/11?

12/11/11?

Getting a little bit harder.

Going back to business as usual. Worrying about how we look. What people are thinking of us. Worrying about money. Waiting in line for the next iPhone. Competing. Blaming. Reacting. Getting angry. And so on.

It's one thing to talk about unity and entirely another to practice it.

Practicing it is hard.

Especially when it doesn't semmingly matter, when it matters least.

When it matters least, is when it matters most.

It's a daily practice, to practice unity. It requires moment-to-moment monitoring.

Try it on the person who most irritates you, who pisses you off and especially in the most mundane way.

Can you try to understand him and her? And even if you can't, the attempt, having the consciousness to even try an alternative to a blind reaction is commendable.

This is the challenge.

Not so much on the 9/11 remembrances.

But in the days, weeks, and months that follow.

With blessings to all the lives that were lost on that day and after.