Episode 53: Lyndon Harris: Forgiveness at Ground Zero

Twenty-five years after 9/11, the haunting images remain etched in our collective memory. But some of the most extraordinary stories began after the smoke cleared.

Lyndon Harris was the priest-in-charge of St. Paul's Chapel, just steps from Ground Zero, where he led a massive volunteer effort caring for first responders around the clock. To the world, he became a symbol of hope. Behind the scenes, however, he was struggling with profound grief, trauma, and bitterness.

Roberta sits down with Lyndon to see how his unexpected journey toward forgiveness transformed his life and became the inspiration for his book, Forgiveness at Ground Zero.

Things We Talked About in This Episode

• Lyndon Harris official website: Books, forgiveness resources
• St. Paul’s Chapel
• TED Talk: A Journey to Forgiveness: From 9/11's Devastation to New Beginnings (2022) with Rev Lyndon Harris
• New York Times article announcing Lyndon Harris’s resignation from St Paul’s Church in November 2022
• 9/11 Memorial and Museum: “Remembering the Little Chapel that Could”
• Dr Fred Luskin forgiveness work
• Calling of the Names Ceremony
• Author Pat Conroy
• "A Meditation on the Thin Space at Saint Paul's Chapel" composed by Peter Ostroushko'

Episode Credits

• Our thanks to Lyndon Harris for joining us today.
• A Bend in the Road is written, hosted, and produced by Roberta Panjwani and created by Roberta Panjwani and Diane Sims.
• Our Assistant Producer for this episode is Elias Rosner.
• Our Editor and Digital Media Producer is Kaleigh Diamond. 
• Our Technical Director and Audio Engineer is Matt Giannotti.
• Original theme music is written and performed by Diane Sims.
• Logo and Website created by Parker Gaidimas.