Time to think of New York

A good craftsman leaves no traces. -unknown

One of my best memories of the whole summer of 2011 is of my time spent at the Indiana dunes lake shore by Michigan City. The colors, the light in the sky was spectacular the day this photo was taken, and the day before, in early August. Yet, the light didn't look the same away from the lake.

The shoreline in New York City will never look the same, but it has become time to reflect upon it. This coming Sunday will be the tenth anniversary of the attack on the United States on September 11, 2011. Our country has gone on to rebuild, face new problems, and come back around to reflect on what has happened since. Osama is gone, and the World Trade Center site is being rebuilt - and that's been a tremendous process.

Design contests. Interconnected, complicated authority, security, environmental, human memorial, considerations. Creative tension on a huge scale. The amazing synergy that is New York City. I stand in awe from Indiana. I had the privilege of being there one time, in about 2003, before the wreckage was even completely all gone. Security around it was tight then. But we walked into nearby Trinity Church, which had miraculously been spared of destruction that day, and many visitors were there praying and paying homage.

In the nearby financial center building, we also saw various mock-ups from the memorial design contest. They were beautiful models, dioramas or what have you, and it felt hopeful to stroll among them. I love the option that was chosen - the two reflecting pools in the Twin Towers' footprints, with tiered waterfalls cascading down inside.

The names of all the people killed in the tragedy will line this area somehow - the names will appear black by day, and lit by night. A landscape of trees and oak benches will surround the footprints - a peaceful park. The new skyscrapers will be in other places - nothing will rise in the space of the twin towers. I love the two beams of light that have beckoned out in their place - who thought of that? How perfect, as a memory.

It will be a while before the new skyscrapers will be completed, and that's a story for another day, but there's some fascinating architecture going on as a result. So many things proposed and scrapped, and so much to do - a new metro transportation center first of all, and I recently learned of the new performing arts center there somewhere also - I look forward to going back.

Meanwhile we remember and watch the news, and learn about the people again. Children born without fathers are turning ten soon. Let us help them find the joy somehow. Let us all find it. Peace be upon you.