9/11
A day
I personally will never forget. We have all heard the stories of ‘where were
you on this day’. It like so many other tragedies that have happened and keep happening
in our world will be remembered always. I will tell you my 9/11 stories and I
would love to hear yours…
I was
living in Upstate New York about an hour outside of Syracuse, a small town and
a small farmhouse. I was supposed to be in my first year of college but money
and God’s leading had me staying home working in town. That day I was doing
some laundry and watching Bonanza with my mom, laughing and joking about the
show. We had a lot planed before I had to work my shift at the grocery store that
afternoon. I went to put some towels away and when I came back, I thought the television
had switched channels on me. I love a good disaster movie and that’s what I thought
I was watching. I saw the tower on fire and the cause in the streets; I called
to my mom to ask what she had turned it to. She came in and that’s when we saw
the second plane hit, that’s when we realized it wasn’t a movie. Form that
moment on I stayed near the television, I didn’t want to go to work. On the way
in we listened to the radio and saw the flags put at half-mast. As odd as it
sounds this was the first time I noticed the flags being different and my mom
explained what it meant. It was very unrealistic to believe we, America, New
York City only six or seven hours away people were dyeing and looking for their
loved ones. I wanted to help, I needed to help. My mom’s advice was to pray,
this was a given for me, I prayed through my whole shift and learned many of
the men at my job had joined the military. When we learned about the plane
going down in the field in PA, I was shocked. The school I was supposed to be
at was only about 30-60 min away from there. I started seeing a pattern, how
close I was to the danger yet spared.
I felt guilty and in desperate need to do
something more, something bigger. Joining the military was out of the question
and I didn’t really have any money to go to NYC and help. Again a pastor told
me to pray. I kept praying, I had friends being prepared to go to war, so I
prayed. America had a large turn around that year; people who had never set
foot in church were attending. The news was broadcasting the revivals,
interviews with people speaking freely about God. Country artist were putting out
songs praising God for His protection and asking Him for His protection over
America.
On this day I also have
to wonder why it takes a tragedy of such great proportion for people to turn to
the one who created us? Why can’t we speak freely anymore about our faith
without possibly offending someone? I am not ranting and I am not wishing to
start a fight, this is just what I see. God is a huge part of my life, He strengthens
me, protects me, helps me raise my girls, and shows me unconditional Love. This
is why if I talk to people I can’t help but put God in the conversation, if
that offends others I am sorry, but we are all human and something is bound to offend
just about everyone. Some people find the sound of chewing gum offensive, some
hate the talk about politics, others the subject of money issues. My point is
we need to stop being so easily offended and just be the people God created us
to be. Jesus didn’t change Himself to be liked by everyone. Why should we?
Okay, this is the end of
my post today, not sure, anyone is out there reading but God told me to write
and so here I am. Take me or leave me…
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