The Promise of Peace Endures

I was in NYC this past week, showing a friend the sites. One of the things I always make sure people see when in NYC is the sculpture in Battery Park known as "The Sphere." The Sphere stood in the courtyard at the World Trade Center and was a monument to World Peace. It survived the horrors of that day with only dents and holes. It is indeed a testament to the resilience of the quest and promise of peace on this earth. Even the world crashing down on it did not destroy it. It survived.

They have moved the sphere to battery park and lit an eternal flame in front of it to honor those who died on September 11, 2001.

Here is an article about the sphere from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Sphere

I remember the first time I saw the Sphere and realized where it had been and what it 'stood for' I got chills. It is quite amazing when you realize what 'came down' on this sculpture that day and yet, it is remarkably in tact. How could something so comparatively small, and so vulnerable survive the entire world crashing down on top of it? I believe that it was its essential energy and message that protected it. I believe it survived to remind us that, even with one of the most horrific displays of violence this country has ever known, the ideal of peace is still alive and quite possible. I believe that this sculpture coming through this experience was to remind us that no matter how dark it seems, there is always hope.

It's up to us. We can treat any horrible event as an excuse to take revenge and perpetrate more violence and hatred in the world, or we can focus on the fact that peace can still come to pass. It's up to us and what we choose to put our energy toward, both individually and collectively.


Me in front of the "The Sphere" in Battery Park, NYC.