Remembering...

This past weekend was one of such mixed emotion. We relished the beautiful late summer weather while camping as a family, but could not seem get away from the memories and reflections of 9-11-01. More than once, tears were flowing as we remembered the terror, the hate, the unbelievable determination of the enemies of freedom.

We explained in detail the events of that fateful morning to our children and allowed them to experience some of them through photos and You Tube clips. Listening to 911 calls from people who would be forever trapped was sickening, to say the least. If this had been an accident, how much easier it would be to accept! The idea that people plan, connive, train, and literally give their lives for this cause is beyond all reason.

In 1994, less than two months after the 1st anniversary of the 1993 World Trade Center bombing, I stood on top of one of the towers, overlooking the harbor and the beauty of New York City.  I felt secure, in spite of the ongoing repairs that were taking place due to that first bombing.  Any fear that I may have experienced was simply because of the tremendous height...I've never been crazy about high places.  The last thing I would have imagined is the possibility of a jet ramming through the huge structure beneath me.

 I often wonder about those who were atop Towers 1 & 2 that September morning.  As I sat at home cuddling my babies on that sunny Tuesday, there were certainly both tourists and locals enjoying the spectacular late summer beauty from high above the busy streets of New York City...and they never would have imagined their fate.

Those of us who love life and love our country have been forever changed. We have willingly given up some of our freedoms to ensure more security. We are more suspicious and less trusting. We are more intentional and less assuming. Hopefully we are more compassionate and less spiteful. More than likely we are more fearful and less confident.

But God has another plan for us. The words of Deuteronomy 31:6 ring clear...
"Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee."
We should be aware of our enemy, but not paralyzed by him. We can live with confidence because our hope is in the Lord!

***photos taken at the World Trade Center Traveling Memorial and the Healing Field, both at Bear Creek Farms the weekend of 9-11-11.  How blessed we are by people who are carrying on such a worthy cause.