Remembering 9/11

This poem was written by Mattie Stepanek on September 11, 2001, when he was 11 years old.  Mattie had a rare disease that led to his death at the age of 14.  Mattie was a poet, a peacemaker, and his faith in the face of difficulty is an inspiration.  This week, to launch our Theme "Tales of the Heart", we will read some of Mattie's Heartsongs and we will learn more about Mattie, who is one of my heroes.

For Our World

by Mattie Stepanek

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 ©
September 11, 2001