Day 34, September 11, 2011
Today is the 10th anniversary of one of the most
tragic event to ever happen on American soil. I still remember sitting in my W100 English class on the
second floor of the Knobview building on the Indiana University Southeast campus. There was a TV in the media center that
was directly next to us and we could see the news running of the 1st
tower of the World Trade Center building smoking. I remember walking in and everyone talking about how some
plane had crashed into one of the two towers. I also remember all of us watching the TV and talking about
what was going on as the second plane hit. That was truly the point that I, and the rest of America,
knew that something was catastrophically wrong.
About 10-15 minutes after the second plane hit the towers; our
teacher decided to cancel our class and I remember skipping all the other
classes I had because I went home and was glued to the news coverage of the
event for the rest of the day. I
remember walking through the campus on my way to my car and seeing everyone
glued to the TVs. I remember
thinking that this was so weird like in a dream. I asked myself, “Could this be really happening? Are we at war? Will I be drafted?” I remember calling my family and
talking with them about it. I
remember crying for our nation and crying for fear of what was to come.
When I woke up this morning, I went to the kitchen and made
breakfast then I went into the den to watch the morning news like I do every
other morning. As the TV picture
and sound came on I instantly remembered 9/11 as they began reading the names
of the WTC victims. I believe it
is the first time I truly got to hear each name read and to see pictures of
each person. My heart was
instantly broken again to see the family reading names and giving personal
tributes. The death and loss of
9/11 became more real to me today than I believe it had on the actual day. Even seeing former President George W
Bush speak brought me back to 9/11 again.
I never truly thought I would be so affected by 9/11 the way I was this
morning but I am so glad that I woke up when I did and had the opportunity to
see the tribute.
I wonder what
it must have been like for the disciples and followers of Jesus 10 years after
His crucifixion. Though they knew
he is resurrected and now at the right hand of the father, they must have been
brought back to the tragedy and sorrow of that day. Jesus had come into Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover with
His disciples. He had been ushered
into Jerusalem with praises and yet in about a 24-hour period he went from
celebrating the Passover meal with His disciples, to praying in the garden of
Gethsemane, being accused, prosecuted, and crucified.
Can you imagine the trauma His disciples and followers must
have sustained from such events?
Jesus was supposed to be the Jewish messiah and the one to deliver them
from the heathens and bring the Jewish people back to a place of authority and
prosperity. They didn’t understand
the many warnings Jesus had given them that He would have to die. They didn’t know what to do now that
their Savior was gone. Their
anguish must have been infinitely more than ours for 9/11. They must’ve felt hopeless. On top of all this many of them would
have to look back and remember the cowardly position they took upon hearing
that Jesus was to be crucified.
All of these memories must have flooded back into the minds of those
disciples and followers who were still alive and had witnessed in the flesh the
horrible day we now know as Good Friday.
Though 9/11 fills many of us with pain and sorrow for the
many Americans we lost that day and through the wars of the last ten years, we
are also filled with pride at the many heroic and wonderful stories of
perseverance, hope, and patriotism that was born out of that day. We truly learned that day what our
country is made of. We all felt
the pain of those who died no matter their age, race, or religion. We all united in a cause to defend our
country and to uplift the values we hold dear. Though we can’t be proud of every decision birthed from
9/11, there was a time after 9/11 happened that we remembered who we are as
Americans and as one nation under God.
The disciples and followers of Jesus also would’ve been able
to see the great strides they had accomplished for the Kingdom. Christianity grew exponentially during
those ten years after Jesus’ death.
There also would have been the sobering memories of the many fallen
brothers and sisters for the cause of Jesus as Christianity faced much
adversity in those first ten years.
As you remember the many victims of 9/11 today and in the next few
weeks, remember those who have come before us and given their lives for the
cause of Jesus Christ. Remember
the precious truth we hold and are to share with the many around us who do not
have Jesus today. Today is
definitely a day of mourning and celebrating for our nation but also remember
our heritage in Christ and the sacrifice He made so many years ago. May it inspire you, as 9/11 inspired
many, to live life in a new way, with a new purpose, and fire for why you are
on this Earth.
Blessings,
Greg
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