September 11, 2001 in broad daylight, terrorism attacks the United States.  The twin towers of the World Trade Center are hit with U.S. commercial airplanes that were taken over by Muslim extremists under the leadership of Osama bin Laden.  Later, the Pentagon was hit with another terrorist controlled U.S. airplane followed by yet another in Pennsylvania.

The United States of America (sunflower which reminds one of the face of a lion) founded on the Christian concept of “freedom”, is attacked in broad daylight (sunflower) by Muslim extremists under the leadership of Osama bin Laden (hawk, an unclean bird of prey).  The hawk (rendered here as the size of a bee and blends into the flower’s tapestry) attacks the east side of the sunflower; its ‘sting’ is potent but not lethal.  The twin towers of the World Trade Center explode (twin sunflower pedals under our heavenly Father’s control) pointed diagonally toward heaven.  The sky (blue), the building (white) and the door of the building (red) represent the flag; blood shed, spirit of God, heavenly skies. The building also suggesting a sanctuary, much like the Old Testament Passover. The hawk with blood dripping from its eyes attempts to suck the nectar out of the flower as a bee would (the nectar being our rich economy), however, not to make honey but havoc.  Horrendous as this event is, the nation (sunflower) does not darken and shrivel up.  No.  Contrary to the hopes of the terrorists, the nation soars and rallies!  —comes together in reinstilled, greater faith; a return to God. Sunflowers— standing shoulder to shoulder, like old friends, chatting at a reunion.  This is not a shallow rendering of a horrid event.  Rather it is a powerful proclamation of ONE NATION UNDER GOD!

The scene in a glance is at ease and serene, almost festive.  There is a pleasant daylight, bright smiling colours— as if noting in the least is wrong, nothing harsh or disturbed or ruined by sin.

One could ask:  didn’t the artist realize the immense tragedy and horror of September 11, 2001 terrorist attack on America?  Why the serenity?  Lewis was obviously not trying to Xerox pictorially a given scene at the World Trade Center.  No, her artistic account of the horrific disaster was painstakingly crafted to tell us something about that happening that incorporates the artist’s whole vision of the foundation of a nation; a carefully permitted act by God that should fill us with inward calm and peace as the morally decaying nation/people reinstill their need for faith and hope in God. 

“How inscrutable are the terrible, holy ways of God who reveals his overwhelming, saving strength in weakness.”