9\/11 - Twenty-five Years Later

9/11 - Twenty-five Years Later

Do you remember what you were doing on this day twenty-five years ago? I do.

It is a day etched into my memory, a vivid reminder that we are both vulnerable and resilient in times of disaster.

At the time, I was working on Capitol Hill as a court reporter for the United States Senate. It started out as a normal day. I lived on the twelfth floor of a high-rise building overlooking the Pentagon, getting ready to leave for work when suddenly I heard a loud "boom" and the building literally shook.

I looked outside toward the shopping center below (there had previously been a collapse of one of the buildings during construction) and wondered if that was what happened again. But when I turned to look at the Pentagon, I could see fire and smoke emanating from one side, and the back end of a plane sticking out of what was once a fortified building.

Sirens began to sound. I turned on the news to find out what might be going on. That's when I learned about the first tower being hit in New York. As I watched, the second tower went up in flames.

It was chaos beyond understanding.

I tried calling someone in my office to find out who was there, whether I should attempt to go in or just stay put until further notice. The phone lines were crossed. No one was answering the numbers I called. I finally reached an intern in one of the Senate office buildings who said they were being evacuated and no one was certain if the Capitol might indeed be a target.

Like most of us who experienced the events of that day, we stayed glued to the television as bits and pieces of the carnage were being discovered. I was renting my condo, and my landlady called to see if everything was okay. Structural engineers came later to determine if any damage had been caused to our building. It was determined to be sound, which was a blessing.

I learned from my landlady that her son was working on the 101st floor of one of the towers. He was never found. She told me later that she, her daughter-in-law, and the children had a memorial service for him. They released balloons into the sky as a tribute to their son, husband, and father who never came home that day.

Without Getting Into My Own Personal Feelings

The events of that day are a stark reminder that life is precious, something we should never take for granted, because we honestly don't know, when we walk out the door of our house in the morning, whether we will be coming back.

This is why a relationship with Jesus should be paramount in life. We should never take our lives for granted but always be thankful for each and every day. Yes, we look forward to eternity with Jesus and being reunited with loved ones, but we are each on earth for His purposes. When disaster strikes, may we be prepared to help where we can and when we can, to bring encouragement and the light of Jesus to those who are suffering, and to receive it when we are on the suffering end.

May the Lord continue to be with us as a nation. May He bless each one of you, and may the light of Jesus Christ continue to shine brightly to a lost and dying world.

What This Day Teaches Us About Living

Twenty-five years have passed since that Tuesday morning. But the lessons remain urgent:

• Life is fragile. We don't know what tomorrow holds.

• God sees everything. Every life lost, every tear shed, every prayer whispered, He hears them all.

• Our witness matters. In times of crisis, people look for meaning, for hope, for light in the darkness.

• We are called to serve. When disaster strikes, we're not just recipients of comfort. We become carriers of it to others.

Psalm 90:12 (NLT) says: "Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom."

That verse captures the essence of what I carry from that day. Not fear, not resentment, but wisdom born of remembering how quickly life can change and choosing to live each day with intention because of it.

Reflection Questions

1. Where do you see God's presence in the midst of suffering or tragedy in your own life or the lives of others around you?

2. What would change in your daily priorities if you truly lived today with the awareness that each breath is a gift?

3. Who might need the light of Jesus that you carry, especially in a season of uncertainty or pain?

A Prayer for This Day

Lord, on this day twenty-five years later, we remember those who were lost, those who served, and those who carried grief too heavy to name. Thank You that nothing escapes Your notice, not a single life, not a single tear. Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. Help us to live today with intention, not in fear, but in gratitude. Give us courage to be vessels of Your light to those who are suffering, and humility to receive Your comfort when we are the ones in pain. Watch over our nation, and let Your peace guard our hearts. In Jesus' name, Amen.

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