A Modern Relic

A scarred section of steel girder was recently displayed in the center of my town. Unremarkable as a physical object, it nonetheless attracted the attention of passersby. Many people stopped and looked and pondered. There's a good reason because this is more than a piece of scrap metal. It is a remnant from the World Trade Center that was destroyed a decade ago on September 11, 2001.

Remnants of the towers, such as this piece of steel, are imbued with meaning. Like ancient relics, they serve as reminders not only of the the historical moment, but also of the emotion of that moment. For those old enough to remember that fateful day, this piece of steel can be enough to bring the feelings of that time rushing back. It is an object that causes us to reflect on how our perceptions of the world changed even as the towers fell. For those too young to remember first-hand, the object probably means something else. Perhaps it is a symbol of a trauma that helped create the world that they know.

Whatever meaning a person does or does not take from encountering reminders such as this, it is a humbling to realize that even mighty towers of steel and concrete can come tumbling down in an instant. Reflecting on the their impermanence  is a sobering reminder of our own fragility.

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Image (above): Recovered fragment of a steel girder from the World Trade Center, photographed in 2011