It was a beautiful early fall day today, although temps were a bit warmer than they had been earlier in the week ( a high of 82, perhaps). Today was also the Ironman Triathlon. Like almost every other Sunday throughout the summer and fall, driving and parking downtown were adventures. I knew the triathlon began at 7:00, but knowing that it began away from our corner of Capitol Square, I imagined that the early service would be relatively free from noise. I was wrong. There was some sort of commemoration of 9-11 taking place at the Capitol. As I walked up to the church, I heard Copland’s Fanfare for the Common Man. There were speeches and bagpipes. Our service was accompanied by patriotic music; our recital of the creed drowned out by the flyover of a fighter jet. I preached on our memories of 9-11 and on forgiveness. That was the gospel, after all. My words seemed drowned out, at least symbolically, by all that was taking place at the Capitol.

Later, we had an Interfaith service. Jews, Muslims, and Christians came together at Grace to reflect on the past ten years, to mourn the dead, and pray for peace. The chant of Allahu Akhbar reverbated from the walls and ceiling of Grace.

I was grateful to all those who participated and all those, 150 or so, who attended. Coming to the service was a challenge because of the race; several people told me it took them an hour to get across town. Organizing it took a great deal of time and energy, but those of us who attended, and those of us participated thought it was well worth the effort. We prayed and remembered and could hear the loudspeaker shouting out race finishers from the other side of Capitol Square. And we made some connections, across denominations, and across religious traditions, connections that might deepen interfaith cooperation and understanding in this very secular city.

That juxtaposition was itself meaningful. It reminded us that life goes on; that, perhaps, we have been taking all of this 9-11 stuff too seriously (but on the other hand, who takes anything more seriously than a tri-athlete?).

And then we came home. I had a couple of beers and grilled some hamburgers.

And tomorrow? Tomorrow promises a full slate of meetings, and emails, and conversations, and getting ready for next Sunday. Life goes on.