WE WILL NEVER FORGET!

Warning: Actual footage from terrorist attacks on 9/11/01.

Today is a sad day for my country, but it's also a day to remember the love we have in our hearts one for another. Today we remember the events of September 11, 2001. A day wherein a small band of hate-filled religious zealots following their Muslim faith murdered 3,000 people on an otherwise ordinary day.

On this day 11 years ago, men who believe in the letter of the religious law carried out a diabolical and evil attack on the citizens of the United States. They boarded our planes and usurped authority over the pilots, crew, and passengers. They wrought fear and terror. So sure were they that their deed was blessed by Allah (their god) that they gave their own lives for their cause.

There's so much confusion as to why anyone would feel this much hate for another nation of people that it's not explainable. We can't explain the evil but we can explain the love that caused the first responders to rise up and take immediate action. We can explain the love that caused those people on one flight to attack their attackers, thereby causing the plane to crash in a field instead of in a neighborhood or into another building. We can explain the thousands of people that risked their own lives to save their co-workers that day. We can explain the love that carried people to their tasks and duties, their sacrifices and acts of kindness that saved others. Most of them died while saving total strangers.

The Bible describes the father of evil as the author of all confusion. When I can't sort something out in my mind, I know that it's not from God. After 11 years and 11 memorial speeches, I still can not sort it out. Why they hated us this much will always be one big question mark in my mind.

Moving past those who hated us and to the ones that loved another, I find complete peace and solace. I think of the fathers that didn't come home to their families that day because they gave their lives to save the father of another family, and although it's a tragedy in someone's life, it's a form of love that floods my soul and makes me smile.

What I see mostly coming from this tragedy was the unity and love that Americans showed. Although this country has become a nation of many religions and many atheists, those were not elements of any discussion on that day in the midst of the events. Nobody was trying to figure out if they should act or not based on their faith or lack thereof. I couldn't help but see Jesus move in so many ways. In the past 11 years, I have heard many stories from people trapped in the towers. One man, I recall, told the story of seeing someone in the smoke bidding him to come and when he obeyed, that "person" subsequently led him to an exit he could not otherwise find. But that person was never identified or seen again. The interesting thing is that the man says he doesn't believe it was a person at all, but rather an angel. Many people that day believe they saw angels leading them through the thick black smoke to safety. Some people felt comfort coming from sources they didn't understand. God was there that day! His peace was with many people and His arms encircled those who weren't going to come out. I firmly believe that heaven was a very busy place that day. There was much to do and the skies were full of more than smoke, but filled with souls transitioning between this life and the one they were embarking on anew.

That day changed my life. I have never been able to look at the footage without sobbing. I feel it all over again. I lament with my people but I triumph with them as well. Our love overcame the terrorists hate. Praise God for that!!

In closing, I thank God that He was supreme in our hearts. I thank Him for the many lives He spared and for the courage He gave others to sacrifice. As for me, I will never forget!

UNITY

"....but I don't understand, why does God allow this to happen?" How many times have I asked that question? I've asked it enough that today I think He answered it, at least in part.

We've probably all heard about the flooding in the Philippines and the loss of life. But have you heard of the triumphs and successes? Have you seen the pictures of the streets literally flooded with both water and people on their way to try to do what they can? How about the pictures of people helping others? That's the meaning of it all. 

There are probably many hidden reasons, but there are reasons that can be seen clearly and without special spiritual guidance. It's simple. I can sit in this house all day and do nothing and it's going to add nothing back to my life. But let me hear a car wreck outside and suddenly, I'm rushing around grabbing water, blankets, phone, etc. (an experience I have had). Suddenly, what was a moment of silence and nothingness wherein I'm all alone doing nothing, becomes me and every other neighbor rushing to the aid of the car wreck victims. Suddenly, everyone is working together to aid in any way possible. It's the unity that comes from the tragedy! And it's a miracle to behold.

This post doesn't have to be a long one to point out the obvious. When a tragedy strikes, we pull together and become one mind, one back, one muscle, one heart, one intention, one love! During that time of what we call 'tragedy,' we are all more alive than ever. If you've ever been in a situation like the one I experienced with the car wreck victims, you know what I mean by coming alive and uniting with others as one. Suddenly, you forget yourself and all things that apply to you. You forget what you're wearing, how your hair looks (ladies)....everything. You forget such frivolities because, in the grand scheme of things, it's not important. I truly believe that tragedy is God's way of providing us with unity for our own betterment because otherwise, we may not exercise it often enough for ourselves. I realize there are those who would be shocked or angry to hear me say, "tragedy is a kind of gift from God" (which we'd see for sure it is if we see the blessings that come from it). I for one have never felt more worthwhile and important than when I've had a part in helping someone to help another. It's that unity that overcomes the tragedy and senselessness of it all.

In short, I say that we consider this the next time we see a mighty tragedy happening in the world that seems senseless and has caused too great a loss of life and remember that in the unity is the greatest form of love [agape]. Why? Because, we rush to someone else's aid, regardless of danger to ourselves, regardless of what we look like, or anything having to do with appearance, we just rush to help others to help. Remember that it's likely a stranger being helped and how many people go around loving a stranger, per se?  Agape is the kind of love that has no bounds and has no conditions. It's just there when it's needed and does what it has to do to give of itself.

Unity during tragedy + show of agape = the overcoming spirit!

I wrote this with my eyes crossing at 1:30 a.m. Please consider that if it's misspelled or kooky sounding. I had a revelation while on another blog and had to blog before it melted.