I was a 22 year old music teacher leaving a K5 classroom in route to my next class.  I had barely taken two steps out of the room before one of the school secretary’s approached me with wild-eyed fear as she stated, “A plane just hit the World Trade Center.”  She then continued her pace down the hall to inform others.  Though I’m embarrassed to admit it I must confess my first thoughts were, “What’s the World Trade Center?”  Though I realized I had heard the name before I had no connection to it thus, in my immaturity, it wasn’t very important.  After all, what did the W.T.C. and teaching music have in common?  Where was it even located?  I was young and uninformed.  Because of her body language I realized there must be some importance to what she was saying so I quickly made my way to the main office.  There I found the principal, 2 other secretaries, and a few teachers who were on their planning period huddled around a TV listening to the chaos of all that was going on.  After about 3 or 4 minutes of drinking in the information being given over the news the principal instructed us all to return to our classes and continue the day as if nothing had changed so as not to alarm the children.  After I finished my next 30 minute class I found a television and stood there for nearly 30 minutes listening to all that was going on only to realize it had happened again with the other tower.  This wasn’t a mistake.  This COULDN’T be a mistake.  Something huge was going on and it was unfolding before my eyes.

This was the first time I had experienced something like this in my own lifetime and quite frankly, I was shocked by the horror of it all.  I think it’s safe to say we all remember that day as it changed the way we viewed life here in America.  Until that point I believe many of us imagined some impenetrable dome that surrounded America.  Terrorists attacks were only something you heard of happening in OTHER places.  Not here in the U.S.  The bombing on Pearl Harbor had taken place decades ago and for many, myself included, there was no direct connection.  Later we would hear of other planes that had also crashed.  The following days were sad, yet extremely bittersweet.  So many lives had been lost.  So many families affected by the tragedy yet there was a hope that survivors would be found.  As I left my home each day the thing I remembered most were the American flags flying at every turn.  On buildings, cars, homes, clothing….the red, white, and blue were everywhere.  I saw how people were coming together to help others.  I watched as churches filled with people looking for answers.  I watched as our country momentarily, almost as one, turned back to God for answers.

After a month or so things began to return to the way they were prior to the attacks.  Though we remembered and were still reeling from the horror of this tragedy most had moved on and continued as if nothing had changed.  Sadly, they didn’t realize that everything had changed and nothing would ever be the same again.  September 11th was a wake up call for America.  Unfortunately, many chose to hit the snooze button and turn a blind eye.  2 Chronicles 7:14 reminds us, “if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”  Though we will never forgot this horrible tragedy we must remind ourselves concentrating on the atrocities around us should not be our focus.  Be assured, things WILL get worse.  The Bible spells it out in detail.  Our goal should be to keep our eyes on the author and finisher of our faith.  As famed hymn writer Edward Mote reminds us, “On Christ the Solid Rock I stand, all other ground is shifting sand.”  Where are YOU standing today?