About 8:50 this morning, a relative from NYC called me to ask about my niece, Inez, who has been employed on the very top floor of one of the World Trade Center buildings. He told me an airplane had crashed into one of the towers. I told him that Inez was on vacation this week in the NC mountains, so she was safe. I was making last minute preparations for my Tuesday morning class and therefore wasn't aware of what was happening in the ensuing moments. But by the time the three Bible Study classes at WPC had started, the magnitude of the disaster had become clear… and our classes became prayer groups.
For all of us, this has been a day of profound shock. We cannot imagine the thousands of people caught in those burning buildings, all scrambling to get out … the screams and prayers of those who must have known what would eventually happen … the frustrations of the rescue teams and fire fighters … the numbing disbelief as people in the streets watched all the destruction and death. We do not know what to say or think.
There is a heavy air of sadness, even as the ashes bury unknown numbers of victims and smoke billows a horrific message.
There is immense gratitude for the human chains who moved from near-death to safety, for the rescue teams, and for our strong country which will prevail as a world leader.
There is the unknown. Two of the class members had spouses in airplanes this morning … another had a loved one who works in the Pentagon. My son called to tell me that he has four college friends who work in the Towers and he cannot find them by phone. People began to remember their friends and acquaintances who live in Washington or New York … or those stuck in airports, or in planes that have not yet landed
There is fear. . .Is this the beginning of a rampage of terrorism? Are we at war? What do these atrocities mean? Am I safe, even here North Carolina? We pray with the Psalmist: "Deliver me, O LORD, from evildoers; protect me from those who are violent, who plan evil things in their minds and stir up wars continually." (Psalm 140:1)
There is earnestness …. How do we explain this to our children? How do we move from helplessness to helpfulness?
There is loneliness. We want to be with someone -- to talk and cry and rage
and listen.
A member told me that she and her mail carrier spontaneously embraced. Members
left work to be with someone.
And, there is rage! We say, "We must identify these terrorists and retaliate."
Before today, I never really appreciated what it might feel like to be part of a village in Vietnam which was incinerated by fire-bombs.
Before today, I never really appreciated the fear of retaliation a Palestinian might feel when one of his/her people becomes a human bomb to destroy a busload of Jews.
Before today, movies like The Towering Inferno, and Independence Day were just fanciful entertainment.
So what does your pastor say? I can only try, as all of you are trying……..
God is sovereign, and the Sovereign God we know through Jesus of Nazareth does not will such violence. Just as God grieved over fallen humanity before the Flood, just as God grieved over the murder of Jesus, so God grieves for our world today.
God is faithful. We may be disobedient and unfaithful creatures, but God
is faithful and God is for us. "For God so loved the world that God gave
His only Son…"(John 3:16)
and "If God is for us who can be against us…for I am convinced that
nothing in all of creation will ever separate us from the love of God in Christ
Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8)
As Christians, we must ask, "What would Jesus say?" His teaching from the Sermon on the Mount keeps coming to mind: "Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in Heaven." This is by far our most difficult thought.
And initial my advice as we go through the hours and days ahead would be:
1. Love your family. Find them and hug them tightly - in person, by phone or
by E-mail. Life is fragile.
2. Let your rage be subject to your love. You'll get more sleep and be healthier.
3. Pray for this world that God has created and loves.
4. Give blood if you can.
5. Go to a community prayer service this evening.
6. Go through your church roll or Pictorial directory and find a person or family
whom you do not know, and give them a call them and see how they are doing.
Tell them Haywood asked you to do this. Don't forget that your church is also
your family.
7. Remember the Scripture on the fronts of our worship bulletins: "And
what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love kindness and to
walk humbly with your God.
May the love of God, the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the fellowship
and courage of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
Haywood Holderness
September 11, 2001
Westminster Presbyterian Church