21 Years Later

It has been 21 years since the worst terrorist attack on American soil.

 

That is a long time ago, but right now, I am watching a special on the National Geographic Channel, and it sure is bringing back some memories, making if feel like it happened yesterday. 

 All I know, one thing is a constant when I think of the events of 911. And that is, I continue to be SHOCKED that this type of craziness does not happen often in the USA. We have had terrorist activity since then, but not on this scale. I am thankful for that, because I don't think we as a country could mentally handle it. I know I couldn't. 

 But it is one of those days where we all remember where we were and what we were doing. I have been on my current job for 21 years now, but back then, I had only been on the job for three weeks. I was at a regulatory course in Denver at the time. I was stunned and momentarily confused about how I would get home. I got home later that week, on a Friday. My plane had been delayed by close to two hours. I remember other coworkers who were headed home to New York had worse delays. 

But my prayer was to get back home to Atlanta, period. And I did. But I do remember the sense of uneasiness I had for a couple of days before taking my flight that Sunday, September 9th, 2001, to the training from Atlanta to Denver. I have not felt that type of uneasiness since, just some unexplainable uneasiness. And then when the tragedy happened, I remember saying aloud... that's what it is. That's why I have been beside myself. 

My Pastor mentioned these feelings some two weeks later. It was a hard unsettling in the spirit. I was glad to have it explained. So if I feel that away again, I know what it means. And I must say, I don't want to ever feel that way again. Ever.

But now I just take time to think about it. 

21 years later now. 

And the hard lesson I have learned is that not only what happened that day was such an awful tragedy, but the residual effects of the tragedy are devastating in their own right. So many families who lost loved ones were changed forever, the emotional loss still felt 'til this present day. I know the wounds are still fresh. Will they ever heal?

I whisper a prayer for them. 

And I pray for our country. 

As we take time to remember this day. 

In Remembrance of 911- 20 Years Later

20 years... 

It has been TWENTY years since what is considered to be one of the most tragic events in American history. 

And for the past few days, I have been thinking about it. 

I wrote a few years ago about the immense sense of unease and foreboding I felt for a time prior to the event. I won't rehash my thoughts here (click here for old post regarding it), but what made it so complex is that I had taken a flight two days before the tragedy. I remember feeling awful inside, but the issue wasn't me flying anywhere. 

Then the event happened. And I understood. 

And here I stand some 20 years later. I woke up this morning and did my usual things. I spent about 20 minutes praying about a few things, and about the day in general. I got dressed and walked 2.5 miles. 

And I thought back to the day of the tragedy. And I thought about how I just didn't know that day that I would be where I am 20 years from then, right now. Only God knows. I was thankful for Him keeping me and never forsaking me. For showing grace through all my hard and complicated spaces. 

Over the years, I have said how shocked I have been that we have not had more terror attacks. I am thankful for that. We have had so many more tragedies over the years, some of which we have become desensitized to. But the gravity of such a sudden terror attack, one that changed our security measures forever... wow... I am just stunned that this hasn't occurred more often. 

It is so hard to stave off the fear of what tomorrow brings, the fear of the unknown. 

Tomorrow isn't promise. Neither is the rest of the day.

Today I pray for the comfort of those who lost loved ones on that fateful day. 

Today I pray for all of us that live with the memories, the residual effects of that day. 

And I am thankful for we have not experienced that level of tragedy in the last 20 years. 

And let's hope we never will again.