Friday, September 11, 2009

8 years later...


(Reposted from one year ago ... nothing's changed ... God still holds us tight as we face each unknown and fear that comes our way, just as He was eight years ago today!)

We all know EXACTLY where we were and what we were doing seven eight years ago today. It is a day, like many others, where we will never forget what we were doing or where we were when we heard the tragic and terrifying news of the attack on the United States. I remember it well ... it is something that feels like it happened yesterday. I was a Junior in High School. It was 3rd Period, a little after 9am when it was announced over the PA system - I spent the rest of the day watching the News Reports in each classroom ... feeling numb along with the rest of America.

The days that followed Sept 11th, 2001 were eerie. I remember the silence, the fear, and the beautiful blue sky. There were no planes landing at the nearby airport, no after school activities, only time to stay home and watch the news of what was happening. The days were long, and crisp - families were drawn together and neighbors began getting to know one another as we all drew together as a nation.

At the time, I lived near one of the largest Air Force Bases in the country ... this only added to the eeriness as we watched fighter jets fly over on routine patrols nearly every day ... for a moment - we were at war with something so foreign and unknown to our daily lives. Things have changed and, while we are still fighting, we no longer fear the unknown, because it has become known and we can better deal with it.

Daily we face things in our lives which are unknown. We must deal every day with the things that come along our paths, just as we dealt with the attack seven eight years ago. These are things which God uses to shape us when we allow Him to do so. Fear can be paralyzing, but God tells us that we are not to fear and that He is with us always. God was with each of us seven eight years ago, just as He is still with us today. Let this be a reminder to slow down, spend some time with family, and allow God to use the fears and hurts in your life to continue to shape you and mold you to be more like Him.

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