Our little corner of the world changed in September 2001. Our sense of security was threatened, our hearts were hurt to the very core of our beings, and we instinctively knew things would never be the same. After the initial shock wore off, though, I found myself going back to normal. Literally. What happened became a minor blip on my radar screen. The only big change I noticed was I wore my American flag T-shirt more often. Of course, I didn’t lose a family member in the tragedy, so the adjustment was easier.
I’ve wondered why it was so easy for me and many others to get back to normal and I think I finally figured it out. My sense of security wasn’t really shattered. My security doesn’t come from being able to safely fly on a plane, or to be safe at work, or being able to open mail without worrying. My safety and security are within, not without.
Never more than at Easter and CHRISTmas are we reminded of how safe we really are. God is our safety. Whatever sense of security we truly have is a gift for all time and can’t be taken away by one senseless act of violence, no matter how heart wrenching it may be. A senseless act of violence that happened thousands of years ago gave us the inner peace we can find today.
9/11 is a nice phrase for the tragedy. More importantly, 911 is the number we should keep in our hearts. Because, through it all, the birth that happened years ago started a much bigger chain of events. One birth, one life, one death, one person to turn to in an emergency. Who never puts us on hold. Who always answers our call. Who knows what we are feeling and suffers with us. Who better to turn to in an emergency?
CHRISTmas is a time for reflection as is September eleventh. For a time of healing old wounds. For a time of love. For giving to others. For celebrating the most important event in the history of the world. The birth of a child that changed the world. And that senseless act of violence that ended His life? Well, it saved the world.
My prayer is that the tragedy of September 2001 will eventually change the world, or at least our part of it. That there will be a turning back to the only thing that will really keep us safe. A deep, abiding faith in the Father.