Bob reflects on 9/11

I’m writing these thoughts while it’s still dark outside on this morning of September 11, 2021.  There’s something to be said about jotting down these reflections in between the darkness of a night and the sunlight of a new day.  There was no way we could have known that exactly 20 years ago today, we were facing one of the darkest days in our nation’s history.

I had an unusually early appointment with a leader from another local church in Burlington on the morning of 9/11/2001.  My friend and I walked out of my office at about five past 9.  My cell phone rang, and it was Susan who said, “I thought you might want to hear the news that it appears as if a small plane has accidently crashed into the World Trade Towers in NYC.”  I thought, “Surely no big deal,” but I told her I was on the way home, and I would check out the news.

Less than an hour later it was evident that it was not a small plane at all, but a jumbo jet filled with passengers and several hate-filled terrorists, and not only that but several other commercial jets had also been hijacked, and one of the most terrifying days ever was about to unfold.  You all know “the rest of the story,” as we watched “terror” kick the breath out of a whole nation.  In less than an hour, several thousand innocent citizens would have their life end and their families and the heart of our country would be broken. 

In the coming days and months, and in some ways years, the resilience of the human spirit would be celebrated.  Heroes from every walk of life would show up in places nobody ever dreamed.  Our nation’s resolve was on alert, petty differences were laid down, at least the moment, for the sake of unity, and Americans were “looking up” toward the heavens seeking the intervention of a God of compassion and grace to heal whatever was broken on 9/11.

I don’t have to remind you to hit “pause” today on the occasion of this 20th anniversary.  The news cycles will be blanketed with stories and images to help us remember the events of that dark day and the days that followed as we looked for the light.

What I will remember the most is that we all felt vulnerable when we saw with our eyes what we thought was impossible, but then our eyes turned upward to implore the God of this universe for help, hope and peace.  The good news is that those of us who follow Jesus and are devoted to making Him famous continue to look up for help, hope and peace.

It's daylight now on this Saturday morning – the sun is rising – I bow my heart and future toward Jesus.

I love you SMC! 

Bob D