Over the previous week I had the opportunity to visit the 9/11 Memorial in New York City and the Flight 93 Memorial in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Each experience was powerful and moving in its own way. Both took me back to that terrifically moving day and brought back many of the memories we all experienced as our country experienced this horrible terrorist attack.

During our visits to these two memorials, a thought I remember having over and over on September 11, 2001 is that evil is a real presence in our lives. Both memorials are a tribute to those who lost their lives. The presentation of the names of those who lost their lives that day, both audiology and visually , is a moving tribute to all the victims who share their final day of life on this tragic anniversary in world history.

I think it would be impossible not to be overwhelmed think of the persons, first responders and others, who rushed into the towers to assist those who were rushing out. I would like to believe I would have had the courage to do that. I have imagined what it would have been like to be aboard Flight 93 and to be part of the decision to prevent that plane from becoming yet another weapon in the horrible destruction that had already taken place that morning in New York City and Washington, D.C.

The victory that day goes to acts of courage and bravery, both great and small that dealt with unspeakable tragedy. There is no clearer evidence of the very real presence of evil in our world than the events of that day. We know that people, motivated by the presence of evil, set out for the purpose of killing and destroying.

Sadly, we can see evil in a number of events taking place in our world. Shootings and senseless violence of every kind can be traced back to the presence of evil in our world. There have been events throughout history that have had their origins in this evil. A major event in. The last century set in pure evil was the Holocost. There is no other explanation for hate based events designed around things like imprisonment, torture and death point directly to an origin in pure evil.

In the short period of time between now and the twentieth anniversary of 911, I would like to invite you to join me in remembering that good triumphs in the face of evil. I would invite you to remember the people who founds. Themselves facing events of this magnitude and responded with the courage and bravery that proves the ultimate triumphs of good over evil.

As we move forward, I encourage you not to lose heart that evil is present in our world. Let us make our focus the constant overcoming of evil that we see in so many areas of our lives.

As we move forward, let’s resolve to live every day with the integrity that will give us the courage to stand and to act if confronted with evil in our lives.

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