Mattie Stepanek was 11 years old when he wrote this poem on the day of 9-11. He died less than two years later due to complications of a rare neuromuscular disease…
We need to stop.
Just stop.
Stop for a moment…
Before anybody
Says or does anything
That may hurt anyone else.
We need to be silent.
Just silent.
Silent for a moment…
Before we forever lose
The blessing of songs
That grow in our hearts.
We need to notice.
Just notice.
Notice for a moment…
Before the future slips away
Into ashes and dust of humility.
Stop, be silent, and notice…
In so many ways, we are the same.
We need to be.
Just be.
And now, let us pray,
Differently, yet together,
Before there is no earth, no life,
No chance for peace.
