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When Trouble Comes |
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| REMEMBERING 9/11 |
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(this article was posted in September,
2002)
Article by Tom Gilbert © livingthesolution.com
One year after the tragedy of the 9/11 terrorist
attacks in the United States we find that many things have changed.
And, yet some things are still the same.
There was indeed a spiritual awakening for many. Despite the
destruction and loss of life some of us realize how God's hand
can heal and transform us through incredibly tough times. Grief
and pain are powerful agents of change.
If you can honestly say your life has changed for the better
then some good has come out of the tragedy. Maybe you have found
that you were taking life for granted. Perhaps you discovered
the deeper meaning of living. You, like me, were quite possibly
humbled in recognizing the lack of real gratitude for family,
health and security.
The sadness that still hangs over us is the real heartbreak
we feel over loss. Loss of life; loss of innocence. Too many
of us thought this sort of thing would never happen in America.
There is another sadness. It's from the lack of real change
in too many lives. Business as usual is creeping back in. Unless
there is real change, there is essentially no change.
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Respond Instead of React
When trouble comes a common reaction is negativity.
It might be in the form of fear or outrage. Self-pity is a route
many of us take. The bigger the trouble and the greater the
suffering the more likely we are to rail against the unfairness.
Is this the proper way to react? Throughout history there are
have been days of sorrow and trouble. Sometimes the impact was
very great and devastating to the victims. The pain and agony
have often seemed more than we can bear. It is hard to find
fault with someone lashing out against such hurt.
Yet, there are people who go through the time of suffering and
hardship and come out the other side stronger and better. Seeing
this during the trouble times is difficult. Maybe impossible.
Looking back afterwards and recognizing that you have been refined
in the fire of adversity causes you to ponder the process.
Here is a secret…don't react to life, respond to it. This
requires pausing long enough to consider our next step…our
response. Practice this long and hard enough and suddenly you
will respond so quickly that it will seem like your natural
reaction.
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Living For Christ
The stories that have most touched my heart
from last September 11 are those of incredible heroism and simple
but fearless faith. Over and over we hear of someone sacrificing
his or her life to save another. Or simply being with another
in the time of fear and death - with destruction all around
and the final moments upon them.
I heard recently of a man trapped that fateful day in one of
the Trade Centers. In the closing minutes of his life he led
many of his fellow office workers to Jesus. He was one of many
heroes that fateful day. How many unrecognized acts? How much
comfort was offered to the suffering, dying and fearful? Death
can come swiftly yet so can salvation!
If you don't already know the story about NYC Fire Department
Chaplain Mychal Judge and how he died on 9/11 be sure to spend
some time reading
his story. The way he died was the way he lived. And the
way he lived was the way Christ taught us. What an incredible
faith and it brings me to tears of gratitude and awe to contemplate
it.
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Lessons Learned
We can learn many lessons from what a friend
of mine simply refers to as "The Tragedy". Certainly
we can become more vigilant and cautious. The world is a dangerous
and violent place. There are those who want to destroy others
and what they stand for. Homeland security is a real concern,
not just for those in the United States, but in Israel, Pakistan,
Bosnia, Latin America and all over the planet.
The greatest lessons we are taught when trouble comes are to
rely totally on God, to love without conditions and to be willing
to sacrifice. The sacrifice may be in the form of money or other
assistance. It may well be the ultimate sacrifice of laying
down our life for another. "Greater love has no man…."(John
15:13)
In the midst of the memories, the tributes, the reflection can
we find time to recognize God's continued goodness? Am I aware
of God's continual grace that surrounds me through good and
bad? He doesn't cause these tragedies. Our troubles are nearly
always of our own making. The secret to peace in troubled times
is to see them as opportunities for God's power and love to
be demonstrated through us (Romans 8:28). Perhaps the best question
to ask ourselves one year later is how am living today?
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Scripture taken from the Holy Bible,
NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®.Copyright © 1973, 1978,
1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout
the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society.
NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION® and NIV® are registered trademarks
of International Bible Society. Use of either trademark for
the offering of goods or services requires the prior written
consent of International Bible Society.
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible,
New Living Translation, copyright ©1996. Used by permission
of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, IL 60189, USA. All
rights reserved.
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Let's Roll!
by Lisa Beamer
(a tribute to a 9-11 Hero)
Now
On Sale
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