Mention "Nine Eleven" and all of us are immediately transported through time
to THE moment, yes?
Where we were.
Who we were with.
What we were listening to or watching.
I was on the on-ramp to the 65 freeway in Nashville on the way to work, listening
to Audio Adrenaline on the radio. The first story in the news was," We have reports
that a small plane may have mistakingly flown into one of the world trade center buildings...."
I immediately knew that could not happen and switched over to a news station where the
details were sketchy coming in there as well.
I haul-tailed it to the radio stations where I was working. Broke every speed limit sign
the next 20 miles, parked and rushed to the news room where I joined about one hundred
other staff with mouths agape. I called Claire, who had just finished working an over-night
nursing shift at Vanderbilt to inform her of the news.
Matt was 4. Kylie was 2 and Tyler was in mommy's tummy, not to be born for another
month. Megan came along in 2003.
This morning was the first time ever they asked, "What happened on 9/11? Where were you?"
For the next hour we talked about the horrors, the bravery, the courage, the savagery, the
saddness that is 9/11. I got misty eyed discussing it. I think more to the fact that my kids
have to grow up and discover that there truly is good and evil. Right and wrong. And it be
more than just, "Ricky took my sandwich at school today." Know what I mean?
From Genesis 1:1 and Revelation 22:21 we read about the struggle, both seen and unseen,
of good and evil. There really are battles going on and they're not just in Afghanistan and
Iraq. They're in hearts. In my heart. And I suggested that the most important "takeaway"
is that we know where we are in relationship with God and in relationship with each other.
We never know what life has in store for us. But we DO know that we have a God that loves
us and is watching over us. Then, to ask the question, "What is it we can do today, for someone else that will share God's love story with them?"
I shared the story of Todd Beamer with them. How he is just one example of the courage
shown that day. He and the others on that flight didn't just sit down and let things happen.
They made things happen and possibly saved many-many lives.
So we said a prayer for those families left behind, for our nation and for you. That we
say to God, "Let's roll" in every facet of our lives..........
