I.. like so many others..have spent a great deal of time this morning thinking about 9/11/01.. it is hard not to with every major news channel airing the videos of that day..
9/11/01 is a date forever etched in the memories of so many Americans.. but even more than this "date".. I have reflected on the days that followed.
To me.. these days hold a set of more "nostalgic" memories...
Maybe I reflect more today because as I sit here and type.. I feel the God given miracle moving and kicking within me... and I cannot help but think about what our nation.. our world.. will look like and be like for her? Like most parents.. I am understandably concerned.
Going back into the recesses of my mind..I vividly remember sitting in my office of the time, and getting the news that a plane had hit a tower in New York...
Quickly.. the oddity and shock of this horrific event spread and before I knew it.. I was sitting on the floor watching a portable tv as news of more planes crashing streamed across the airwaves... and I remember watching the Twin Towers fall.. over and over.
My heart broke for so many.. and immediately.. I wanted to go. At that time in my life.. I admit that I was living in and of the world.. and I like many other 20-somethings.. had dreamed of moving to New York City and climbing a corporate ladder in the midst of the "ultimate urban lifestyle"..but this was a different stirring to be there. I just wanted to help.. somehow !.. I questioned my choices and the career I was in, and even thought.. "I should go to medical school. I need to be able to help!"
Even then.. I can see where my heart was geared to that of missions.. where God had placed the strong desire in me to help others and be someone that is a "below radar get it done go to person".. most recently, this was best described as being in "air traffic control".. not a job.. but ministry...
With all of these random things circling in my mind.. suddenly fear started driving my thoughts and I contacted all of my loved ones that I could reach.. just to hear their voices..and wondered like so many.. where else COULD and WOULD this be happening? HOW was this happening here.. in our country?
That was a moment in time.. 12 years ago today. The day after my 26th birthday.
There are several poignant times in my memory that I have felt the nearly indescribable "feeling" that I did that day... and honestly..there are days in my history that have far worse memories associated with those "type" of feelings.
The days that followed 9/11/01 were filled with fear.. anger.. a wide range of emotions... but ultimately what emerged was far greater...From the ashes emerged a feeling of patriotism. A sense of unity and solemn reconsideration of priorities..
The realization hit that something was terribly wrong in the lives of so many because mortality had just been blatantly thrown in all of our faces.. in our own back yard.
..There were historical numbers of people who attended church in the weeks that followed...the nation united as one Under God...there were patriotic parades and a strong feeling of love and compassion for our fellow man..
It was a time when there was a vivid realization of the importance of God and family...and people evaluated how they spent their time and made adjustments to spend time on what and with Who mattered most. I have never been prouder to be an American than during that time..
...so what has happened to us 12 years later???
...back then..it was said that in time.. we would IN FACT "forget"..
I remember being heart broken at the thought..but understood the reality that it would likely happen..that we would all get wrapped up once again in our own little worlds..we would lose sight of what matters most..
I didnt want that for anyone.. including myself. But with time and life.. the priorities once again shifted..for me, it took 5 years of "forgetting" and making bad choices for God to get my attention..Thankfully.. at 31.. I listened.. repented.. obeyed and have never looked back.
Today.. I watch the news..I have paid attention to the events happening in our world..and sadly as predicted.. looking at the state of our country...rather than be humbled and thankful for our many MANY blessings..we have become even more of a nation that tolerates and allows SO much that goes against God and His Word....that goes against all that our forefathers established this country on...
We, like so many others, are a nation that allows even more corruption in every area...on every level...we are run by a government that is dominated by the pure desire for political gain..where more of our leaders actually seem to take pride in striving to outwit the "other guy" no matter the cost. Our country represents that of a chess match, where materialism and greediness reign.. the chess match is constant and stands out in priority more than a country that stands up for our own..for what is right..and just..
like taking care of our servicemen and their families for example...
Our nation seems to strive to take God out of everything and everywhere..
Our priorities... they are far more off center than I could have ever imagined seeing in my life... not that I knew what to expect.. but the pace at which the spiral is happening is mind-boggling. It is in fact biblical.
I'm not saying we are "all" of the mindset that our country now seems to represent.. most of you reading this probably even share my same views...
And please.. do not get me wrong..I WANT and look forward to the day when Jesus comes back..I am tired of all the sickness..evil and loss...where the Godly man and woman are persecuted more and more..where we struggle with everyday life and endure loss that makes no sense...and we watch as the bad guy succeeds in the world..
But...it is the way of the world..and while we are here...we should all stop and reflect on our blessings and thank GOD above for giving us each the opportunity to make a difference in this broken world. We should not walk in fear... we should be walking in victory and seeking God more than ever! He has given us each the chance to literally change the world..one day at a time. He created us for more. So why arent we standing strong for what is right.. loud and strong?!
Those that are on the other side are in no way quiet about what they want and what they believe "they deserve"..
Let it be understood.. I am more hopeful than discouraged. My HOPE is in God alone.
My faith is strong....not weak. In those moments when I do feel weak...God is my strength..He is my strength in all things.. every day... and I do not know how anyone "does life" without Christ
or why they would want to?! Maybe...they just do not know Him..and it is our God given duty to introduce them to our Savior!
I pray that everyone takes a moment today and reflects on life..this wonderful amazing miracle in time that God created us for... that we do in fact realize the brevity of it..
that we Praise God from whom all blessings flow...and that this reflection makes us refocus on what matters most and that we ask Him what it is HE wants us to do.. in our lives.. in our families.. in our communities...in our country.. in our world..
The Godly.. those who strive to live as He has laid out for us in the Bible.. we have to stand up for what is right and fight for what really matters.
Really.
Life is short.
Let's get back to center folks and not depend on horrific tragedies to shake us to the point that we stop.. look... and actually pay attention.
Let's prioritize..
Let's make change NOW.
#1 God.
#2 Spouse
#3 Family
...and then all else..
Have a blessed day and may God forgive us all for losing sight of why HE created us to live in this place.. in this moment in time..
may He give us strength and wisdom to pursue righteousness for His glory! Let us not grow weary...
He will not bless America if we do NOT get back to center..
Center.. being HIM.
