9/11 Attacks - Forgiveness

Inspirational Wednesday is presenting you with a speech on forgiveness. Presenting the speech is Phyllis Rodriguez and Aicha el-Wafi. Rodriguez' son was killed in the World Trade Center during the 9/11 attacks in 2001; el-Wafi's son Zacarias Moussaoui was convicted of a role in those attacks and is serving a life sentence. In hoping to find peace, these two moms have come to understand and respect one another.

Forgiving someone is something which a lot of us find great difficulty in doing. Being able to forgive is an ability which is beyond the mind of a person, it takes heart to actually forgive someone. Our ego prevents us from indulging in such actions, because this way we preserve our ego.

What makes forgiveness so difficult is that we are unable to surrender ourselves to that situation. Sometimes the forgiveness which we give is for the benefit of no one else but our selves. It allows us to surrender to those negative thoughts to live with peace. We cannot forget totally but it seizes to occupy our thoughts and prevents us from creating emotions of resentment. Letting go of our ego is a great challenge for all of us, some face greater challenges than others, but everything is relative. So through forgiveness we are doing ourselves a big favor. So from a fight and flight mode, we move to a more peaceful mode of rest and digest.

Everybody has the strength to forgive and move forward. Before these two individuals became friends, they were complete strangers. Even though the son Aicha el-Wafi son was responsible for performing acts of terrorism during the 9/11 attacks killing Phyllis Rodriguez son, she found the strength to forgive. A magnificent story of true courage, showing that the impossible is possible.

From strangers, to enemies, to friends.