Where Were You When?

Where Were You When?
5  I remember the days of old; I meditate on all that you have done;  I ponder the work of your hands.  6  I stretch out my hands to you; my soul thirst for you like a parched land.  Selah {Psalm 143:5, 6}
It’s hard to believe that it’s been 16 years since the attack on the World Trade Center.  As I watched the news this morning it caused a couple of thoughts to come to my head.
First, where were you when you first learned that our country was attacked?  I remember very clearly standing in a hotel lobby with another controller who had just told me that an airplane had flown into one of the towers.
I asked him if the weather was IFR (Instrument Flight Rules), or bad.  He told me, “No, the weather is clear.”
I asked him if it was a small aircraft, possibly an inexperienced pilot who had just made a mistake.  He told me, “No, it was an airliner.”
We walked over to the TV and it was showing a live picture of the first tower with smoke billowing out of it near the top floors.  Honestly, I was dumbfounded and had no idea how this could of happened.  As we were watching the second aircraft flew into the other tower.  I immediately turned to my friend and said, “We’re under attack!”
You know the rest of the story.  But, where were you? What were you thinking?  How have things changed in your life since this tragic day?
The other thought that came to my mind is how much our nation has changed since 9/11.
I’ll never forget the week after when it truly seemed as if the nation came together and recognized our need for God.  It was the first time in my life that I could remember that the topic of God, being depicted in a positive light, wasn’t taboo on the major networks.
I remember sitting and watching the news slack-jawed because a commentator openly spoke about our Nation’s need for God in a time like this.
One event that stands out to me was when they opened the churches across the nation for prayer!  I was at work when I heard about this.  Another lady that I worked with had just become a Christian and she was on duty that day as well.  I asked her if she wanted to go with me during our lunch break and pray.  She said yes.
We went to the church that was just down the street.  As we sat down I offered for her to pray first and said I would close if she liked.  She told me, “Carl, I’ve never prayed out loud before.”  So, I said, no worries, she could pray silently and I would pray out loud when she was finished.
It wasn’t a long, drawn out thing, probably no more than about 15 minutes.  When we finished we both had tears in our eyes.  It was just inconceivable that anyone could have so much hate that they could do such a thing.
Things sure have changed.  The softening that occurred after 9/11 has all but disappeared in my experience and we are a much angrier/nastier people than I can ever remember.  BUT, God is still in control! (Isaiah 41:10-13)  I have to hang onto this, because it’s the truth.  Regardless of whether I can understand or agree with what is going on, God has called us to be a bright light shining in the darkness.  So, the darker it gets, the brighter we should shine. (Matthew 5:16)
Take a second and remember where you were when.  Then, remember that God is in control and has chosen to work through us to share His love with the lost and then . . .
 
Stay Bold!