9-11 Thoughts

Many of us can remember the tragic events that took place on 9-11-01. Most of us will be able to remember our exact location when we became aware that America was under attack by a group of people that we would label as "terrorists." I was sitting in my office at a church in Washington County, Kentucky when I received a phone call from my wife. She informed me that I should probably go home and turn on the television so that I could see what was taking place across our nation. All of us can remember the pictures that began to flash across the screens of our televisions as well as the words that the journalists were using to describe the events that were taking place right before our eyes. Some have stated that the "innocence" of America was lost that day and time will prove whether that statement will turn out to be true. I just know that we became personally acquainted with words, terms, and names of terrorists groups that many of us never knew even existed. Twelve years ago we began a journey down a road that we are still travelling today and we are reminded of that on a daily basis through the various sources of media.

 

In my mind 9-11 must become a day of remembrance. We can not afford to forget the tragic events of that day and remember that there are people who daily relive the events of that day. The survivors of the attack see the effects on a daily basis. The surviving family members sense the emptiness in their hearts and still miss their loved ones. The military family members who continue to say good-bye to their family member when he/she is deployed to some foreign soil where they continue to place themselves in harms way for each of us. Once again, I remind you that we can not afford to forget. We have seen buildings rise in the place of those which were destroyed. The Pentagon has long ago returned to "business as usual." Our country has moved forward in many ways yet the price of that day is still being paid by countless numbers of individuals. I encourage you to take a moment on 9-11 and bow your head in a moment of silence and remember those individuals who lost their life during this murderous rampage by a group of individuals who felt that they would be rewarded through the infliction of pain, sorrow, heartache and death. 

 

Let me leave you with three words that came into my heart during my time of prayer and reflection.

 

Reflect: Have we (you) learned anything from that event? Have we (you) forgotten more than we remember? Do we (you) still cherish life as we did in those immediate days following the events of 9-11? Are we (you) still praying for our nation and for the leaders of our nation as we did in the immediate aftermath of 9-11?

 

Remember: Have we (you) forgotten about those individuals who died during that tragedy? Have we (you) forgotten those first responders who willingly gave their lives to save others? Do we (you) remember the call to prayer, spiritual concern, and crying out to God that took hold of the "soul" of America immediately following the tragedy?

 

Respect: Do we (you) still hold in high regard those first responders who put their lives on the line on a daily basis? Do we (you) still hold in high regard those men and women who serve in our military and place themselves in harms way that we may enjoy our freedom in America? Do we (you) still pray for our first responders and the military as well as their families? Do we (you) still cry out to God in prayer on a daily basis?

 

May God bless America with a great spiritual awakening!!