9/11

I woke up this morning to see my the US flag waving proudly outside of my large pallodian window and I was reminded of that fateful day just a few years ago.

As with all of you, I will not forget that day. It had been less than a year that we had moved from our home in NJ just 12 miles west of the City. The proud twin towers were so familiar to me and I knew many people that worked there.

But on that fateful day, I was homeschooling my young children. I was barely up and around and received a phone call from my friend who told me to turn on the TV. The images I saw then will never leave my mind. As I watched in horror and disbelief I couldn't help but think it was all surreal - like so many movies that I had seen. I spent the next three days keeping my mother company and watching the story unfold as we worked on getting my father back from Colorado to New England without the benefit of airplanes.

I spent the evening of 9/11 in the ER. While grocery shopping that day, I banged my head on my husband's hatchback, misjudging the distance of the back opening while loading my groceries. My minivan was in the shop. I had a huge gash in my head and was sent to ER for staples so that my hair would continue to grow in that spot (can you imagine).

The ER was filled with people experiencing great anxiety. Most people were in there for chest pains - the world was in a panic. What didn't help was the constant replaying of the very source of anxiety on the TV's all over the waiting room area and the sound of people jumping from the towers. As I sat there for 8 hours waiting to get my head stapled, watching the fear in the eyes of the people, I realized how connected we all are. How we build our kingdoms and feel so invincible, and yet how vulnerable we really are. A small handful of people can truly change the course of so many lives.

We've heard the sad stories. Husbands, wives, mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, aunts and uncles all gone. Some children lost both parents. Many heroes have come out of this story - people there to help others. Evidence of the grace of God in the midst of great suffering.

Our prayers are with all those today who were so greatly affected by the tragedy of 9/11.