Chatting with Jesus
Monday, September 11, 2023
Who can forget where you were on September 11, 2001? What were you doing?
I, your humble Aggie scribe, waited in the parts department at the shop, hoping my backordered parts had come in. A TV mounted to the wall kept customers entertained while they waited for hours, sometimes days, for their parts. A crowd gathered, watching the burning North Tower, one half of the iconic Twin Towers in New York City. An American Airlines 757 had crashed into the tower. The broadcasters were still calling this a horrible accident when the second plane, a 767, slammed into the South Tower. The gasps of witnessing such an act sucked the air out of the room.
Could we believe what we just saw? Calls to God were immediately uttered. Others offered curses using the same God. Work ceased. Needed parts weren’t a priority now.
I called Mrs. Aggie, my wife. Her voice trembled. Their office also witnessed the second plane hit. Like us, the scenes we watched seemed surreal. Her attempts to reach our two daughters to check on their well-being failed, but they were probably communicating with their spouses and children. We called friends and loved ones to check on them.
The people surrounding the TV wondered who was behind this act of terrorism. “We’re under attack,” some said. “No way,” others countered. “Not here in America.” “What group is behind this attack?”
Questions flew around the room as to what we witnessed. When we thought it could not get worse, another 757 crashed into the Pentagon. Then, within an hour, came the report of a United 767, flight 93, had crashed into a field in Pennsylvania. Pundits speculated this aircraft’s destination to be either the White House or the Capitol.
People who seldom—if ever—prayed, probably asked for God’s mercy on the poor souls of these horrific acts. Prayers of “God help them,” and “Lord, have mercy,” filled the parts room, as we watched folks lean out windows, trapped about the hellish blazes. Our hearts tore apart, watching those, knowing there was no hope of escape, leap from the windows and into the arms of God. Many jumped holding hands, not wanting to die alone.
That day evil forced us to watch its horror. ‘Horror’ is too weak a word to describe what happened to humanity. No one should have had to see that.
Evil murdered 3000 innocents that day, representing 115 countries. Their “crimes?” They came to work. They went on a business trip. They started their long-awaited vacation. They longed to see loved ones.
September 11, 2001, will forever be a dark day in America. It revealed the worst of humanity. Sadly, in other parts of the world, people celebrated the destruction of the Twin Towers, the Pentagon, the crashed 767, and the deaths of innocents. Videos of dancing and celebrating over the successful attacks repulsed every red-blooded American and our allies. Our righteous rage rose within us. September 11, 2001, brought out the worst of humanity.
The sacred Scriptures state God’s position on the events of that day. “The Lord keeps his eyes on the righteous. He hears their prayers. But the Lord’s anger is against those who do evil” (Peter 3:12).
September 11th brought out the best of humanity too.
As events unfolded, stories emerged of ordinary people having supernatural courage. Stairwells were the only exit from the towers. People helped one another escape, some carrying the frail, handicapped, or wounded on their backs all the way down to safety. Race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, Republican, Democrat—none of that mattered. Humanity cared for one another. Later, stories came to light of those who could have escaped, but refused to leave others who were wounded until the first responders arrived. Most never came out. People prayed with one another. I want to think there were no atheists left in the towers. People called on God for mercy. The best of humanity.
Enough cannot be said about the firefighters, police and emergency responders who rushed into the buildings, up the stairwells, while others rushed to safety. Their courage to save others overruled the dangers they raced into. The New York Fire Department lost 343 firefighters and paramedics. The New York Police Department and the New York Port Authority lost fifty-nine officers. They sacrificed their lives to save others. God rest their souls. The best of humanity.
At the Pentagon, 184 perished. Rank didn’t matter. Military brass worked side-by-side with enlisted people, civilians and politicians to rescue and lead people to safety. The best of humanity loving humanity.
On Flight 93, after the hijackers commandeered the 767 and turned it toward D.C., the passengers bravely took matters into their hands. Todd Beamer, a committed follower of Jesus Christ, led the charge. His holy rallying cry of “Let’s Roll” is now part of the American lexicon. Knowing they now were not heading to San Francisco but headed toward eternity, they regained entry into the cockpit to overpower the hijackers. They crashed into a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Ordinary people gained divine strength and righteously fought evil—and triumphed. The best of humanity.
America came together in common purpose as she did in World War II. How the terrorists meant to bring harm to us instead brought out the good in us. Although we saw the worst of humanity that day, we saw the best of humanity more. Differences were put aside. Americans committed themselves to one another. We were united.
Missionary Lucas Ellis stated so perfectly the spirit of 9/11. “The difference between someone who is scared and someone who is brave is that the brave person is scared but tries anyway. Bravery cannot exist without fear.”
Oh, Lord, that we may become united again in love and respect, with one purpose, one goal. Forgive our sins and may we turn our hearts toward you. Amen, Jesus.
THANKFUL 
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