The Towers Fell
Title: The Towers Fell
Subject: Tragedy
Where were you when the Towers fell?
My assistant and I had been in a meeting near Atlanta, Georgia, when a lady burst into the conference room saying everyone had been ordered out of the building. She wasn't sure why, but it was important that we leave as soon as possible. I tried calling my office, but there was no signal. I knew that when a threat was called in, the towers in the area were shut down so cell phones could not be used to detonate a bomb. As this bit of information popped into my mind, I suggested we quickly leave the vicinity.
Several miles later we stopped by my house to see if my wife would like to join us for lunch. She was working at home that day, but as we entered the house I noticed she wasn't at her makeshift desk. Instead she was sitting motionless in the den, staring at the TV. I'm not sure she even noticed we had entered the room. I followed her gaze to the screen and saw the images we would see countless times over the following hours, days, weeks and months...planes striking buildings in New York City, fire and billowing smoke, people jumping to their deaths, and the Twin Towers crashing to the ground.
I remember all of this as though it was yesterday. I can still see the pictures in my mind, as well as those of the crash into the Pentagon and the charred fields of Pennsylvania. But memory can be a fleeting, fading kind of thing. It really isn't important to know where we were or what we were doing when the Towers fell, but whether these events changed us. Did they leave a mark?
Since 9/11, there have been many deadly terrorist acts and they have occurred literally around the world. Men, women and children of different races, religions and nationalities have been injured, maimed, and murdered. On August 31, 2006, I left for Scotland. Just a few weeks before, various levels of British law enforcement had uncovered and foiled an attempt to blow up several commercial jets bound for the U.S. Security was heightened, as were the legitimate concerns of many people around the world. Did these events leave their mark as well? If so, what was it? Anger? Fear? Distrust? Or something else entirely?
This world has a deep history of the types of events we have seen over the last several years. Nothing is new. Hatred has been around for a very long time. Whenever we go through a period of relative peace, we forget about the evil in the world. We believe that with the right set of laws, freedoms, commercial enterprises, or government structure, everyone will be happy, kind and caring. With such devotion to mankind's ingenuity, we lull ourselves into a false sense of security and no longer remember the depth of the pain and suffering we once witnessed. But hatred and evil do not forget.
Events such as 9/11 should change us. They should leave a mark, but not the kind the world offers. This mark is vastly different. It flies in the face of all human reason and understanding. This mark has been carried by courageous men and women throughout the ages. It has been their standard as they faced times of tragedy and suffering. It has led them through fear, confusion, loneliness and
hopelessness. By this mark, people have walked past walls of water and stood among towering flames. They have escaped slavery, conquered kingdoms, and dispensed justice. They have become sure of what they hoped for and certain of what they did not see.
This mark...the same one we also carry...is faith, not in ourselves or our own cleverness, but in God and God alone. It is divinely given and closely held. And through it, we know the outcome. Though death and destruction become common sights, God reigns. Though nations threaten and terrorists plot, God reigns. Though the future seems in doubt and peace a distant dream, God reigns.
We have been changed. We will stand, for we carry the mark God has given us. And that mark is faith.
I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. John 16:33
Take care and be God's,
Chuck
Ciloa ... Encouraging one another as long as it is called Today!
Ciloa is a registered trademark of Ciloa, Inc., a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization.
A Note of Encouragement is a copyright interest held by Ciloa, Inc.
My assistant and I had been in a meeting near Atlanta, Georgia, when a lady burst into the conference room saying everyone had been ordered out of the building. She wasn't sure why, but it was important that we leave as soon as possible. I tried calling my office, but there was no signal. I knew that when a threat was called in, the towers in the area were shut down so cell phones could not be used to detonate a bomb. As this bit of information popped into my mind, I suggested we quickly leave the vicinity.
Several miles later we stopped by my house to see if my wife would like to join us for lunch. She was working at home that day, but as we entered the house I noticed she wasn't at her makeshift desk. Instead she was sitting motionless in the den, staring at the TV. I'm not sure she even noticed we had entered the room. I followed her gaze to the screen and saw the images we would see countless times over the following hours, days, weeks and months...planes striking buildings in New York City, fire and billowing smoke, people jumping to their deaths, and the Twin Towers crashing to the ground.
I remember all of this as though it was yesterday. I can still see the pictures in my mind, as well as those of the crash into the Pentagon and the charred fields of Pennsylvania. But memory can be a fleeting, fading kind of thing. It really isn't important to know where we were or what we were doing when the Towers fell, but whether these events changed us. Did they leave a mark?
Since 9/11, there have been many deadly terrorist acts and they have occurred literally around the world. Men, women and children of different races, religions and nationalities have been injured, maimed, and murdered. On August 31, 2006, I left for Scotland. Just a few weeks before, various levels of British law enforcement had uncovered and foiled an attempt to blow up several commercial jets bound for the U.S. Security was heightened, as were the legitimate concerns of many people around the world. Did these events leave their mark as well? If so, what was it? Anger? Fear? Distrust? Or something else entirely?
This world has a deep history of the types of events we have seen over the last several years. Nothing is new. Hatred has been around for a very long time. Whenever we go through a period of relative peace, we forget about the evil in the world. We believe that with the right set of laws, freedoms, commercial enterprises, or government structure, everyone will be happy, kind and caring. With such devotion to mankind's ingenuity, we lull ourselves into a false sense of security and no longer remember the depth of the pain and suffering we once witnessed. But hatred and evil do not forget.
Events such as 9/11 should change us. They should leave a mark, but not the kind the world offers. This mark is vastly different. It flies in the face of all human reason and understanding. This mark has been carried by courageous men and women throughout the ages. It has been their standard as they faced times of tragedy and suffering. It has led them through fear, confusion, loneliness and
hopelessness. By this mark, people have walked past walls of water and stood among towering flames. They have escaped slavery, conquered kingdoms, and dispensed justice. They have become sure of what they hoped for and certain of what they did not see.
This mark...the same one we also carry...is faith, not in ourselves or our own cleverness, but in God and God alone. It is divinely given and closely held. And through it, we know the outcome. Though death and destruction become common sights, God reigns. Though nations threaten and terrorists plot, God reigns. Though the future seems in doubt and peace a distant dream, God reigns.
We have been changed. We will stand, for we carry the mark God has given us. And that mark is faith.
I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. John 16:33
Take care and be God's,
Chuck
Ciloa ... Encouraging one another as long as it is called Today!
Ciloa is a registered trademark of Ciloa, Inc., a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization.
A Note of Encouragement is a copyright interest held by Ciloa, Inc.