A Moment that Changed History

Hello Friends,

Can you believe that next week you will have been in school for one month?! One month of waking up early, one month of doing homework, one month getting adjusted to a new routine, one month of going to bed early, and one month of absorbing new information, listening to lessons, answering questions, and following your dreams. How has the first month of school been for you?

Today, I want to share something with you that took place in my life when I was about your age. Twenty-five years ago, something terrible happen in our nation; something that we never saw coming and today can never forget. Two planes crashed into the World Trade Center–the Twin Towers as they were called. Another plane crashed into the Pentagon; and yet another plane crashed into a field. This event is known as 9/11. On September 11th, 2001, our nation changed.

I remember sitting in Mrs. Pearson’s kindergarten class at Northside Elementary School in Geneseo, Illinois. It was a cloudy, warm, Fall-like day. The newness of school was still in the air. As a class, we were getting ready to go outside for recess, and that’s when the intercom system rang throughout the school. The sound of the principle’s voice, under the crackling of well-aged speakers, echoed throughout the empty halls.

The Principal, in a calm, soothing voice–very similar to how he normally sounded–said that everyone would have to remain inside for the rest of the day. As a matter of fact, I don’t remember leaving the classroom at all that day.

Not a footstep was heard in the hallway. The sound of squeaky shoes in the gym was silent. There was no music coming from the choir room. Paint brushes weren’t clanking in cups of water being cleaned. The swings on the playground remained still and no one was running around the bases or catching a football or shooting hoops. In a school housing over 200 students, nothing could be heard.

 A couple of minutes later, he appeared at the classroom door, signaling for Mrs. Pearson to come over, and that’s when our lives changed.

Twenty-five years ago, on September 11th, a really bad thing happened. We couldn’t believe it. We didn’t want to believe it. Our nation hasn’t been the same since. There was so much fear, darkness, and blaming. However, as many people were confused and crying, thousands of people came together. They supported each other, they hugged each other, they checked in with one another, and most importantly they were there for each other.

What happened reminded of what Jesus did. He was there for those who needed help, who needed a hug, who needed to feel loved. Even when something bad happens, Jesus is still there for us and with us.

What I want you to remember about what happened 25 years ago is that when everything seemed wrong, Jesus never gave up us. Jesus was there with us helping us get through something terrible, just like he does with each of you every single day.

I wander if people will still remember 9/11 twenty-five years from now?

Your Friend, Holy Spirit!