For years, One World Trade Center, aka the Freedom Tower, in lower Manhattan has been a constant presence in my field of vision. The Guideposts office is located in the Financial District, right by Ground Zero. And my sisters and I just moved from the neighborhood after living there for four years. We were lucky enough to witness the Freedom Tower grow from humble beginnings to one of the most stunning buildings in the city.
Over Labor Day weekend, with the 15th anniversary of 9-11 just a week away, my sister Kristin and I watched documentaries about the attacks. When I returned to work on Tuesday, I couldn’t help but think about that fateful day as I wandered around the Financial District on my lunch break. It was still on my mind that evening as I took the train from the brand new World Trade Center Transportation Hub to grab dinner with my friend Lisa in Jersey City.
I was running about half an hour early for our 7 p.m. dinner. Lisa was running late. It was windy out, so I headed inside a shopping center near the restaurant and called my mom while I waited. I found a seat in one of the center’s common areas. Just as I sat down, construction started nearby. I couldn’t hear my mom over the phone.
I searched for a quieter spot and ended up back outside on the Jersey City promenade overlooking the Lower Manhattan skyline. A runner stopped mid-jog to snap a photo. A guy nearby did the same. They seemed mesmerized by the skyline, though they didn’t seem to be tourists. What was all the fuss about?
I looked at the view in front of me again, really looked. And that’s when I saw it. A rainbow over the skyline. Right above the Freedom Tower.
“Mom, hold on,” I said on the phone. “I need to take a photo!”
I snapped a few pictures. A minute later, the rainbow was gone. I told my mom what happened, barely able to contain my excitement. If Lisa hadn’t been late, if I hadn’t been early, if there hadn’t been construction…I would’ve missed it completely!
Even more amazing? This isn’t the first time a rainbow has appeared over the World Trade Center. Last year, a day before 9-11, one emerged seemingly from the Freedom Tower itself.
To have witnessed such an incredible sight this year, days before the 15th anniversary, felt like a blessing. A sign of God’s love encircling the neighborhood I hold so dear to my heart.
Have you ever witnessed an amazing moment of wonder? Share your story – or photo – below!
