09/12/2020
19 years ago I woke up to my alarm clock radio tuned into 91.1fm, a well known Christian station. No music was playing and there was an audible change in the normal morning hosts voices. It only took a few minutes before I heard the words that would echo around the world forever changing everyone’s lives.
A plane had suddenly flown into one of the twin towers in New York City and as I listened they announced the next plane hitting the 2nd tower.
Stunned I quietly crept down the stairs as I heard my mom on the phone crying and the tv news reporters talking. What was said I don’t remember but the scene on the screen I will never forget.
Both towers, a symbol of the American dream, each had a new giant gaping hole with visible ferocious fires burning internally and spewing tons of toxic dense black smoke. Homemade flags, constructed from the very clothing of those trapped in the higher floors, waved in vain as the last plead for a miraculous rescue. Items resembling debris falling off the towers were, upon closer inspection, people jumping from windows as they exercised their last choice of free will.
As I stood paralyzed by the scenes flashing on the tv screen my mom noticed I had come down and we sat together on the couch in silence. The emotions I felt are what I can only imagine might be similar to what the citizens of the UK felt watching the Blitz kill thousands in WWII.
We sat in silence watching the disaster unfold further each second being completely unaware the worst wasn’t over. Just like how knocking down the first domino causes a exponentially growing chain reaction; a few minor structural failures culminated in both towers crashing to the ground with unprecedented speed.
Anyone in the floors under the plane impact still had some hope of escaping alive. It was that hope which lead police, EMT’s & firefighters to do absolutely everything they could. Even refusing to leave the building which meant sacrificing their lives so they could save as many civilian lives as possible.
All we had were tears streaming, unbelief in what was just witnessed, and the only place we knew that would give us the peace, hope and strength to go into that day where our known world was turned on it’s head, was into the waiting arms of Christ. Only He is the savior of souls, only He knows what our future holds and only He is the reason we can go into the next day with hope.
A country of divided races, genders, political ideals/ideas found the only saving grace which can unite a nation and it spread across the world uniting it when nothing else could. It was the prayers lifted up to Christ in our deepest despair, hopelessness and uncertainty for what our future held. When people were trying to use the attacks as proof God had abandoned His children, that God was punishing our nation for it’s sins, instead millions were brought closer to Christ rather than those who cast away their faith.
In Christ Alone, my hope is found
He is my life my soul my song.
This cornerstone,
this solid ground,
Firm through the fiercest
drought and storm
What heights of love,
what depths of peace
When fears are stilled,
when strivings cease
My comforter, my all in all
Here in the love of Christ I stand
As a society we can’t afford to forget the many many sacrifices the police, fire departments and medics gave to save EVERY person, without any consideration of the victims skin color, on this day 19 years ago. This should be the one day where everyone, regardless of political affiliation, can come together as a nation, in Christ, to show our support for everyone effected by that horrible event.
