Where were you on Sept. 11? That question was asked many times this week as the nation – and the world – remembered the first anniversary of the worst terrorist attacks in history. Naturally, people gave many and varied answers. They expressed about every emotion known to man as people related where they were and how they felt upon hearing of the destruction and loss of life.
Like others, I know exactly where I was. Because of multiple sclerosis, my mornings are not my best time, so after taking a handful of medication, I'm usually trying to sit in some position of comfort waiting for the spasms and pain to ease, watching CNN, and studying. I saw the first plane hit, then the second, then came the news of the Pentagon and Pennsylvania crash, then the tower collapse. And I kept hearing God and prayer mentioned.
My mind turned to the horrible news many are going to hear about their loved ones, and then to James' statement, "What is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away" (Jas. 4:14), and a like statement by Solomon, "Boast not thyself of tomorrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth"(Prov. 27.1). How quickly our lives can change. How many people left their families Sept. 11 with a casual "see you later"? How many had plans to see a child's school event that evening? How many left wife or husband without a kiss or "I love you," not thinking anything about it until the opportunity was gone?
This kind of tragedy shows us what James meant when he wrote, "For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that" (Jas. 4:15). God needs to be a part of our plans, an actual living functioning part with whom we communicate often. We all need to involve Him more -- by praying without ceasing, for one thing (I Thess. 5:17). And since I heard so many talking of God and prayer on Sept. 11, I wondered why we call on and speak of Him in times of tragedy but don’t want to talk about Him at other times, like in our schools. Would it be acceptable to pray in school if a terrorist crashed an airplane into it?
I was made to wonder why so many people seem to think that God is just a God for bad times. The Bible says, "And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight" (I John 3:22).
Yes, it was a terrible time for America on Sept. 11, 2001, and worse yet for the many who lost loved ones in the attacks. May we all learn from it that we never know what the next moment holds and make profitable use of the present.
Jack