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Johnson Internship Program

Jack Mitchell, Johnson Intern

The tragic events in New York and Washington have affected the Johnson Intern Community just as they have affected people all over the country and the world. Tuesday (September 11) at work, each of us spent much of the day with our coworkers huddled around televisions and radios listening to the news reports filtering out from Washington and New York.

When we returned to the intern house Tuesday evening, each of us continued to deal with the events of the day in our own separate ways. This was hard for me because I somehow expected us to miraculously come together as a community, strong and fully formed, in this difficult time. In the immediate aftermath of the tragedy, however, this was really too much to ask. We have made, and continue to make, progress building a community together, but after only three weeks together, none of us -- including, much to my surprise, myself -- were ready to open up to each other about the internal turmoil we were each feeling as a result of the tragic events. Slowly, we each went our separate ways to think and pray and sleep.

Wednesday evening, having had a chance to spend time on our own dealing with recent events, each in our own way, the community of interns came together to share a meal and then to worship together. Tuesday, we had needed to deal with our thoughts and emotions separately. This night, however, we gathered together. In the shadow of the previous 36 hours, as a community with candles shining against the darkness, we said prayers in celebration of God's Light and Peace:

Stay with us, Christ, for it is evening ...
Make your Church bright with your radiance ...

Jesus said "You are the light of the world...and you...must shed light among your fellow men ..."

Keep watch dear Lord, with those who work, or watch, or weep this night ...

Cause us, our Father, to lie down in peace, and rise again to enjoy life ...

Blessed are You, Lord, who spreads the shelter of peace over us, his people Israel, and over all the world. Amen

As we move on after this tragedy, may Christ stay with us, watch over us, and help us to be light in the darkness of the world.

© 2001: Chapel of the Cross