I Will Never Forget

Photo by Julie Laiymani on Unsplash

18 years ago, I was 12 years old, a 6^th grader, and I was on my way to school when I first heard the news on the radio of a plane crashing into the World Trade Center. All I knew about the WTC was that there was a skyscraper in New York City. I could guess from the name that financial work happened there, but that was about it. I didn’t even know there were multiple towers at that point in the day. I remember thinking it was sad, and how strange it would be to see an airplane strike a building in a city! But I, like many students who didn’t live near the crash sites or see the first images broadcast on TV, went on with my day, not thinking too much about this crash. (It’s a good reminder how most kids that age didn’t have phones, especially phones with any access to the internet, and social media wasn’t a thing yet in 2001.)

Eventually—I don’t remember if it was later in the morning or early afternoon—our teachers shared with us what was coming over the news. This wasn’t a single plane accident resulting from a mechanical failure; it was intentional. There wasn’t just one plane that crashed, but four. These planes with passengers aboard had been hijacked by terrorists who were part of an organization called al-Qaeda.

As I returned home that afternoon and turned on the TV, I think most channels were airing coverage of the tragic events in New York City, Washington D.C., and rural Pennsylvania. I started hearing about Osama bin Laden and Afghanistan. I saw pictures and videos of the fiery crashes, the buildings falling, people jumping to escape and running down the street fleeing the cloud of dust and debris. I followed the rescue efforts and the numbers of the injured and casualties. With a firefighter/paramedic for a dad, the efforts of those at Ground Zero seemed that much realer to me. My mom got sick of me watching the coverage non-stop and wanted me to turn it off. I remember President George W. Bush speaking to the nation that night about our resolve, and appreciating his efforts and leading in the weeks and months to come.

9/11/2001 is a day I will never forget. I’ll never forget what happened, what I saw, or who did it. I’ll never forget 9/11 because those events changed the world. New security protocols were introduced for travel. War was declared just days later, a war which continues today. I’ll never forget because it was through those events that I became aware of terrorism, both at home and abroad. It was because of the terrorists’ religious background that I was introduced to the religion of Islam. I’ll never forget because so many lives were lost: people traveling for business or pleasure, going to see family, going to work, going about their daily lives, serving as first responders—and the effects of sickness and death due to what happened also continue today.

It was—and is—a national tragedy. It was shocking. The response for many was heightened patriotism and love and defense of “America.” The religious undertones of this being an attack by Muslim extremists against a country where Christianity dominated were difficult to avoid. People turned to churches and prayer, and at least the idea of God, because suffering and tragedy came really close to home.

A lot has changed for me in 18 years. My thoughts on politics, war and military strength, patriotism, racist attitudes, and faith have all gone through some amount of change or maturing. To this day, the only easy answer for why tragedies like what happened that day can and do happen in our world, whether within or outside of the borders of the United States of America, is sin.

As I reflect on what happened that day and what is true throughout history, I can’t help but think of the words of Psalm 53:1-3, “The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God.’ They are corrupt, and their ways are vile; there is no one who does good. God looks down from heaven on the sons of men to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God. Everyone has turned away, they have together become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one.” No one. Not just people from other countries, not just people who don’t look like us, not just people who have turned many-seated transportation vehicles into deadly weapons, the nature of all of us— humankind—pursues evil. Obviously, we don’t all pursue it the same, being willing to consider or attempt or commit the most heinous of acts against others. But the root is always sin, which is in all of us.

9/11/2001 showed us sin. The question that must be asked in response, then, is where does anyone look for hope, for recovery, for saving from that sin? It can’t be in military strength, weaponry, or victory. It can’t be in pursuing whatever it means to be the greatest nation. No, the only hope against sin is Jesus and his love shown through the only perfectly obedient life ever lived and his willingness to suffer an undeserved death on behalf of others. He is the only true Redeemer of people from sin and the fate we deserve—a fate that is far worse and longer lasting than the devastation of any terrorist attack. The only way to combat all sin and evil is for individuals to surrender and put their trust in Jesus. Being changed by that surrender, with the help of the Holy Spirit, we must put to death—not other people who disagree with us—but whatever belongs to the sinful nature and put on the new self with all that is godly—a self where the image of God in forgiveness and peace is necessary (Colossians 3:1-17).

I will never forget what happened at those towers, at the Pentagon, and at that field. I will never forget how so much changed on that day 18 years ago. But I will not let the fear, anger, or hate that those events can spur to overpower what I know is true and right in Jesus. I will never forget the hope, the meaning to our existence, that he alone can give.