I am so sad. And mad too.

Right now everything seems so unfair. I grew up in New York City and have been in those buildings dozens of times. I have friends that live and work near them. I feel so powerless over these events. I don''t know how to help. It feels like we are so vulnerable.

Should I be afraid for me and my family? Why is this happening? Who in hell could do such a thing? How could anyone have such a disregard for life? I don''t even know who to be mad at. I can''t imagine what would make them so mad? What "good" could they have been seeking out? Is this the end or only just the beginning? Will things ever be the same?

Can they get worse? What can possibly be learned from such horror? How can I help?

My guess is that you have many of the same feelings. Like you, I have to look at yesterday''s events and put them into some kind of perspective. The events seem so surreal. But yet I know they are not. They are very real and their image will last a lifetime. They will have to be personalized (how do I feel about this?), they will have to be shared (how do you feel about this?) and we have to grow through them (what can we learn from this?).

Let me share a few thoughts from my heart:

• We have been victimized but have to careful about adopting a victim mentality.
• Who ever did this wants to suck us into their emotional trap, but we can''t take the bait. We have to disengage from their emotional plot. If we don''t, we will be further victimized or even worse, turn villainous ourselves.
• We have to understand that true villains don''t think like we do. They can''t be reasoned with. They abandoned their hearts long ago. The villain must be exposed and disarmed. Their punishment must fit the crime and serve as an example to others.
• Once the emergency has passed we can''t get caught playing the zealot. We can''t treat the innocent many like the villainous few. We have to eventually lead the terrorist community out of their darkness through love, forgiveness and example while being conscious of the fact that unconditional love does not imply unconditional relationships. After evil has been arrested, enforcing firm boundaries will be a necessity.
• This latest tragedy is only the most recent in the long running drama known as "Goodness Triumphs Over Evil". It is a perfect example of the triumph energy crossing over the line. Believe it or not, these terrorists have caused inconceivable destruction in the name of "doing good". Because they have become detached from their hearts. Because they want others to feel their pain.
• This drama will continue to play itself out on our TV screens, in our communities, workplaces and homes until we realize that taking on the role of the victim, villain or "negative hero" is too high a price to pay our emotional education system.
• What does it mean for us to be a hero in all of this? We can start by donating blood ( I''m going today) and helping with relief efforts. Go to www.redcross.org  and www.salvationarmy.org . I just sent them $ 100 bucks apiece. So can you.
• We can be a hero by spending time comforting friends, relatives and co-workers. Then we can take this tragedy as a wake-up call and realize that its about time we dropped our petty personal dramas. Let''s quit barking, bitching and pointing fingers about that which separates us and lets truly unite. Let''s be more human, caring and loving. Let''s shine as an example of what is Good about us and for us.
• Finally, lets address the embarrassing truth- which is that much of today''s  terrorism is a direct by-product of our insatiable thirst for oil. We are feeling the pains of our co-dependancy on a non- renewable, highly polluting resource. You can be a hero by driving fuel-efficient cars. By using solar panels and other renewable energy sources. By supporting politicians and groups that support renewable energy sources.

I will pray today for the friends and families of those wounded and lost in yesterday''s tragedy. I will honor the heroic deeds we all witnessed yesterday and those which will continue over the coming weeks. And I will pray for a tomorrow not governed by scarcity, fear or needless drama but by abundance, courage and love.

May your God be with you.