“Anxiety does not empty tomorrow of its sorrows, but only empties today of its strength.”

Charles Spurgeon

It was a glorious day. The skies were crystal clear of any clouds. The air was autumn crisp. Children were off to school. Life was happening all around. Suddenly, the sky was pierced with a deadly attack that would live in minds and hearts all around the world. We sat in the comfort of our homes as the tragedy unfolded right before our eyes. How could this be? Airplanes were attacking the nation’s Big Apple. Within moments the clear blue sky filled with black, death-filled clouds. We were stunned, amazed, angry, fearful. We couldn’t begin to imagine that planes could be hi-jacked and used as weapons of mass destruction, but there it was. Right before eyes. Our son called from his car to find out what was going on. Scattered news reports were exploding on his radio. Still, it wasn’t clear what was happening.

Everyone has a story about this day – 09/11/2002. Most of us remember what we were doing and how it made us feel. How could this possibly happen in our own country? It seemed like we were watching a movie, but the special effects were reality. As rescue teams responded and many of them lost their lives, smoke and ash continued to spew out of the two buildings in the center of New York. People were jumping out of windows to their death in order to escape the heat of the flames. They chose to end their lives in their own way. Meanwhile our nation was under attack by a terrorist cell determined to bring death to America. Another plane, flown by yet another suicide hi-jacker, hit the Pentagon on the west side of the complex. Yet another plane crashed into a field in Pennsylvania. The passengers inside all died, but they did so by fighting back. That plane was supposed to hit the capitol building in Washington, DC, but was diverted by a group of passengers that would die as heroes. Days later, funerals would be held for the victims of the day. Tears flowed, people melted in each other’s arms, we were in a state of shock.

During times of trouble, we seem to rally as a nation.  We forget about bias and bigotry for a while and focus on unity.  That evening we attended church service as many other Americans across the country did. We sang patriotic songs and displayed American Flags. The flames of the day ignited something else in our country. Patriotism was revived. The next day war was declared on terrorism. Within a very short time, men and women died giving their lives for their country. Families waited for the flag draped caskets to be delivered..

Today, services will be held in remembrance of this horrid event. Names will be read as a bell tolls. Tears will be shed again as the memory of that day remains in the hearts of many. When I look at America today, I wonder if we learned anything from this disaster and the others that followed. Patriotism is a thing of the past in many cases. Wars continue to be fought. Lives end. We try to make sense of the “why.” We blame God, but He isn’t the One to be cursed. Evil will be with us as long as we live, but God will never change. He is good and His mercy endures forever. Even when we think that our country is going to hell in a handbasket, God continues to spread His wings over us. We need to call on Him again today, to rule over our land.