September 11. Just the date gives us a feeling of sadness.
Like only a few other days, this day is one that is frozen in time.
What do you remember? These are a few of my thoughts.
First, I remember being puzzled by seeing the first tower burning. For some reason, Martha and I had the TV news on right before leaving for work. The commentators I watched did not know what had happened. They assumed that a small plane may have crashed into the tower.
It was only after I arrived at work that I was met with the horror of the second tower being hit and the words I will never forget. My friend and co-worker Marty Williams said: “We’re under attack.” It was only then that the magnitude of what was happening hit me.
Second, I remember sitting on the floor. We didn’t have a TV in our office, but someone had a radio. We put the radio in the middle of the floor and we sat around it. That was a classic response to grief. In grief, we started thinking about the people we knew in our church who were flying that day. In no time, our thoughts went from national disaster to a very personal disaster.
Third, I remember thinking about my first grandchild, Jake. Actually, Jake would be born ten days later on September 21, but his parents had named him and we were praying for him by name. I remember thinking about President Bush and saying, “President Bush must protect my grandson.” That, of course, is why we elect a president. He or she is elected to provide for the common defense and to promote the general welfare.
Fourth, I remember the powerful story of the heroes of Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Those heroes learned what was happening and gave their lives for their country. They attacked the hijackers and protected the lives of others as well as our Capitol. These folks should never be forgotten.
Finally, I remember going to bed with a sense of hope. I found that hope in three things: 1) the birth of Jake, 2) Anna’s birthday. Our first born was born on September 11. She didn’t let us celebrate on September 2001. It was a time of mourning, not a time to rejoice. But I rejoiced in the safety of my family whole grieving for other families and our nation. 3) God Himself the One who never forsakes us. As long as there is God, there is hope.
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5 Responses
A great read, Waylon, that brought tears to my eyes. Because I know your family & because we all went through this. I remember holding Henry who had been born May 18, 2001 – about 4 months before Jake, & I was watching it on TV. I ran to get Chuck off his mower so he could come in to see it. It was drastic. But we always had hope becuase of Jesus & we had each other. Still praying for our nation & the president to be this year. I think of Anna every year on this day! Love you Waylon, Candi Cook
I’m sure you mean “while.”
It was certainly a time of uncertainty, as I busied myself doing what I had planned to do that morning, only stopping when the first tower came down. I was working on a trailer across the street when a waive of grief hit me. I crossed back home.
So many perished for the Blessings Citizens and others take for granted. The Jefferson Parish Museum was formed to remind and challenge each generation to follow the leadership of the God of our Country’s founders, the melting pot. Forsaken, attacked, unfunded and redefined by the Daughter of the founder. Hope continues with each breath of his wife and their son.
I was in Jordan, standing amidst the downed columns in Jerash, the second-largest city in the Roman Empire, evoking that era in my mind, when someone’s cell phone rang, and then another, and another …. When we realized we were under attack, the thought came to my mind, “Just like the Roman Empire, our nation could crumble.” At that moment, someone called out that the first tower had crumbled — the same word! That shook me up. Who would have thought America was less than invincible? But we are. We are. I’ve read “The Harbinger” recently, and believe we’re already under God’s judgment. We must humble ourselves, and pray, and seek His face, and maybe He will relent.
What a memorable experience that was for our staff and families to go through together. I remember it like it was yesterday. My daughter, Haley, had just been born, and I wondered what kind of world she had come into. I thought a lot about how I had taken for granted the safety and security of my family. I also remember that following Sunday at FBC Covington we had record worship attendance as everyone looked for hope in such a dark moment in time.
Today I am reminded that “Our God is greater, our God is stronger, our God is higher than any other.”
-Danny Rogers
I vividly recall that day. The first tower was stricken just before I headed out the door to drive to the church. We were having the last planning meeting to kick off our MOPS year the following Friday. With a 2 year old and 4 year old in the car, that 15 minute drive seemed an eternity. During our meeting, the second tower collapsed. Our steering committee prayed for wisdom and guidance in what to say and how to explain this to our preschoolers. Ultimately we decided that our moms needed the stability and the camaraderie that the MOPS group represented so we pushed on, altering our first meeting to accommodate the times. Through all of that, we developed a unique bond. Praise God!