Remembering Gander

When planes were grounded on 9/11, 38 planes were diverted to Gander, Newfoundland. A town of approximately 10,000 people welcomed nearly 7,000 Americans into their homes, offering them hospitality, safety & compassion in a time of unprecedented fear and uncertainty.

I have been reflecting on this part of our history this week, particularly with national conversations around those from other places in the world who come to the United States for the same reasons: hospitality, safety and compassion.

On one of the most difficult, scary days of modern times, strangers offered a safe haven for our country’s people. Americans were fed, clothed, given comfort inside strangers’ homes many miles away from home and their loved ones. If you were alive during that time, you may remember that we didn’t know when we would see air travel again. Some newscasters suggested it could be months. Yet, Gander opened its arms without expiration date.

Why does the story of Gander stay with me today?

Henri Nouwen teaches that we cannot have compassion without confrontation. We must confront our own biases & history engaging with others in the world. We should remember that we too have needed others’ safe haven. The United States is not impenetrable, we learned that on 9/11/01. We too have caused great harm to others in the world. We are not innocent.

We are A great nation, but we are not the ONLY great nation. There are other places in the world, beautiful people in those places who offered the gift of their compassion to Americans on 9/11 and every day since.

So, today as we remember the heroes of 9/11 who walked through fire, who climbed steps who gave no thought to their personal safety, who overtook an aircraft knowing they may not survive themselves, who worked tirelessly in rubble to find survivors…

May we also remember that ordinary people in a far away place offered us all their prayers, support & refuge in a myriad of ways.

In Matthew 25:35, Jesus teaches “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in.”

How can you offer compassion today and every day after? How can you offer your community more than your small, self point of reference?

Be a proud American today if you so choose. Just remember that today, 25 years ago, Americans needed others too. Not just other Americans, people who look like us, talk like us, think like us.

Turns out, we aren’t so different than the woman escaping religious persecution, the family fleeing violence, the migrant in search of stability on our worst day. 25 years ago, we were reminded of that. May you remember today also.

Learn more about Gander on 9/11 here: https://www.911memorial.org/connect/blog/lend-hand-do-what-you-can-remembering-generosity-gander