The day the Twin Towers Fell in New York, America
Almost twenty years have passed and I can still recall where I was when my small part of the world saw the terrifying events take place in New York that fateful September day. I was in seminary (Campbell Divinity School, NC) and sitting in a class with Dr. Pam Durso. She was professor in Church History.
Sitting with classmates, we were all shocked when another professor stepped into our room and told us what was happening with the terrorists as they flew planes into The World Trade Center. Still in shock at what was happening, my classmates and I began to form small prayer groups as we watched the events still unfolding on TV.
Many of my friends were mission minded and we all wanted to board a bus or a plane and help those in NY who were running down the street or, we wanted to help the fire fighters carry victims up and down those many flights of stairs. We wanted to do something but, helplessly we could only watch. We could also pray.
So, my classmates and I did. We prayed for the terrorists. We prayed for the President. We prayed for the world. We prayed for those running down the street from the ash falling form the sky. We prayed and we prayed. What else could we do? We were so helpless to do anything tangible yet, we could do the next most powerful thing; we could pray. The biblical book of James tells us, “the prayers of the righteous avail much.”
Only God know what those prayers did that day. What about you? Do you still find yourself praying, even these many years later, at times when you feel helpless?
Another lesson I learned during that time was from my friend, Roxann. She taught me not to live in fear. After those attacks in NY and in other places around America, more security in public places was becoming the norm. That fall and winter, our local airports were filled with military personnel to ensure safety. Even locally, security and safety were a number one issue for all of us.
My two friends, “R” and “G”, invited me to spend Christmas in Arizona with them; that meant, travelling by plane. Fear began to rise within my thoughts and wondered if I could really take the risk. But, having two great friends (who held my best interest at heart), their words and pleas were convicting and I agreed to go.
What an amazing adventure my friends and I had that Christmas! Such a treasured memory shared with two spiritual sister type ladies, I would have missed such a blessing If I had given into the fear.
How about you? What fears do you need to let go of so you can enjoy God’s gifts of adventure, friendships, and experiences? I pray that both you and I, dear reader, will continue to live in the help, hope, and joy of God’s Word and of His spirit. Living any other way is just not living!
What lessons has 9/11/01 taught you? What do you need that event to teach you? Where were you on 9/11/2001?
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I remember where I was that day. I was in a meeting with my Bible Study friends. The secretary of the church quietly walked into the room and whispered into the ear of our leader. With a calm voice, our leader spoke.”Ladies, let’s get on our knees and pray.” She explained what she had learned. The power of prayer calmed us. I pray we never forget.
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Melissa, I so appreciate your support and your comments on my blog. You know, I think all of us prayed that tragic day when the towers fell in NY. 🙂 Prayer is such a calm and a balm to broken, worried hearts. (didn’t mean to rhyme there.)
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I really like this piece, especially the admonition to not live in fear. I also liked your points about prayer; the two go hand in hand. There is a peace that comes from trusting God when all we can do is pray.
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Candice, thanks for posting your words here. I appreciate the time you took to read this post and then, to write a response. 🙂 Well put Candice; there is a peace from trusting God when all we can do is pray.
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The most poignant memory for me was walking down the hall of my school where I taught fifth grade, and my knees buckled at the realization that my son was in the Army and would probably go to war (which he did). At that moment, I rededicated him to the Lord. It was the only way to get through my day without fear.
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Linda, what a great testimony to your faith in God! I can only imagine how you must have felt that day. As you say though, prayer was the only way to get through any part of that day.
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I also was in a Bible study meeting when the church secretary came in to tell us the news. And we also prayed. What a calming influence prayer has on our lives as we acknowledge One who is greater than we are and who is not surprised by the events that surprise us!
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It’s so odd we remember exactly what we were doing on infamous days. I’m old enough to remember what I was doing on the day JFK was killed. On 9/11, I was working in Seattle at a retirement home with my husband.
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I too remember the day well. I was home from work to meet with a contractor about doing some work on our bathroom. My husband worked for the FAA in Fort Worth so we did not see him for a long time. We ended up moving to DC within 6 weeks as he was now needed in the Capitol.
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I remember every detail of 9/11 of where I was, what I was doing and the sick feeling in the out of my stomach that this was happening!
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Excellent. I feel like I learn this lesson over and over – when the “worst” happens, we lean on what is most important.
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