Roger Hutchison

September 22, 2001

Diocese of Upper South Carolina's Jr. High Fall Retreat.

After September 11, we prayed that there might be survivors. Bruised and battered hands reached into the dark hoping to grasp the hand of one of the missing.  We must continue to reach out – away from ourselves – into the quagmire of fear and disbelief…into that place where there is no hope. Our hands must reach into that place where there is no place…no place to hang on for dear life… The no place can be a scary place.

In that no place of twisted metal and shattered dreams we do see another hand. It reaches towards us…open, strong, forgiving…pierced. Reach out – take that hand…and hold on…for dear life.