What were you doing when the Twin Towers were attacked on September 11, 2001?

As for me, I was listening to the news in my car on the way to the church when the first plane flew into the first tower.   I had a scheduled meeting with Avis, the church administrative secretary, to work on the church budget. I didn’t stop all that I was doing to keep up with the news.  Was I in denial?  Were my priorities screwed up?  At that point I’m pretty sure I didn’t comprehend the gravity of this situation.

I went ahead with the business of the day—numb—until the phone rang.  Church member, Kevin, called to ask me about my response to this situation.  What was the church going to do?  This tragedy was sinking into my mind/soul!  I have no idea how I was going to respond.  All I know for sure:  Kevin, along with numerous others, were calling upon the church for what the church does best–the offering of pastoral support.  Honestly, all we could do at this time was listen and hear and grieve together the loss we were experiencing as a nation.

Kevin would soon travel to New York as a trained Red Cross volunteer to provide logistical support for the thousands who responded to this national crisis.  The church would join with neighboring congregations in worship and prayer.  Seventeen years later, we continue to grieve and search for ways we can respond to this horrific episode in our past.

What were you doing on September 11, 2001? What are we doing now, personally and as a church and nation, to keep America safe?