40 Days of Prayer

Join me in this. This is the most important thing that can be done to affect our upcoming election and national crisis. Not money, phone calls, walks, posts, signs. Without this, we are doomed, no matter who the election favors. Read it. Spread it. Do it. Claim it. Meet me there. Click here.

September 12

Today is September 12. It happens to be my brother's birthday. It's also the day after September 11. As you probably do, I remember where I was when I first heard about the first plane hitting the World Trade Center Tower. I was shaving, listening to the radio. The host said that there were reports coming in that a plane hit the building. I figured some private pilot in a small plane had trouble and crashed. What I didn't know was that while I was getting up and shaving, there was a fight going on in the air, on 4 planes. First an offensive takeover and violence, then a defensive reaction to try to fight back, resist, or at least minimize the loss of life. That day was a daze, surreal, wondering what happens next. I guess the last building didn't fall until later that afternoon. It was a long day. I tried to explain to my kids about that. My older daughter was upset; she said her sister was too young to understand, but she was scared. My wife and I worked through the day. I remember looking at each other from time to time; a questioning look that does not have an answer. We watched the news, how could you avoid it. We went to church that night. Prayed to God Almighty for protection, for our leaders, for our country. We put the kids to bed, and tried to settle down ourselves. The next day came, just as it always does. It was another pretty day, weather-wise. But there was a different feeling. Everything seemed in suspense. On the other hand, I remember feeling a different feeling. Not a victim anymore, but a responder. For once, the country that needed us was our own. It was bad. But it was Good. There was a sense of community. A sense of protectionism. Of patriotism. Of God. Of our family, friends and neighbors. I learned early on in my career that usually the most valuable experiences I have come from trauma, failure, unplanned events despite the best of planning, sometimes just a sense of action, or an indiscriminate act. September 12 was not a fun day, but it was a day of regrouping. There were alot of flags out. They stayed out. I have been flying mine pretty much ever since. People were nice. Respectful. They acknowledged one another, even strangers. We were probably ignorant of how badly some people wanted to hurt us. We seem to have missed a few warning signs. One of them, the 1993 attack on the same site, was far from subtle. Can't say that anymore. Might have gone too far in the other direction. I know for myself, I know more about my country now. I notice more things. I know why and how and where it was built, and who did it, and what they built it from. I know that most of the original people came here from a country that was an empire, and that we turned on. I know that we fought the French, and then they saved our butts at the end of the Revolution. I know that we are the most generous, giving, industrious, creative, intelligent, resourceful, grass-roots people on the earth. I know that we are a Divinely blessed and appointed country, and we are chosen for His good work. I used to think that we are not as religious of a nation as some others, especially in the Middle East. I noticed that those countries are more known for their religion and practice it outright than we did. Then I discovered that we used to be that way. Most of the colonies each had their own denominational background. All of us that came over here brought our faith and denominational preferences here, and practiced them. And we were then looking for a place to be able to honor and worship and proclaim our God without somebody else telling us how to do it. And when it came to jump ship, as it were, the leaders consistently and thoughtfully and prayerfully sought the guidance of God as they put this Nation together. And I believe from a Divinely inspired Hand. And then I noticed that some of that faithful action and purpose was coming back to us. And then I learned more about the Bible. I learned more about people. I interacted with them. Sometimes across a border, sometimes just across the state. I found myself behaving differently. I wasn't necessarily misbehaving before, especially from a secular view, but I was definitely more aware of my purpose, my influence, my reactions, and my contributions. I remembered a bumper sticker I saw a long time ago. Said something like - You are going to be an influence. Is it going to be a good one or a bad one? I try to be a good influence, despite what Charles Barkley said. I think many of us do. September 11 2001 was certainly a tragic day. It caught us off guard, but it also refocused us in ways that couldn't otherwise have occurred. Here's the best part. September 12 2001 was the day we woke up, saw the Sun, thanked God for being here, and went about the task of recovery. I'm not talking about shopping. It took a week for the planes to get back in the air, but the Americans were back at it, some beat up, some physically injured, many grieving the lost, but ready to fight another day, and with a renewed vigor and perspective and strength. Every day is like September 12. And the further we draw away from the original September 11, the more diligent we should be to remember the past, and how we changed on that day, and the day after. America is an idea, not a place. It has its home on a parcel of land, but its not the land that is special, its the people, and Whom they fear, and whom they serve. God and each other. I am a fatalistically positive person, and so I tend to simplify and emphasize the good, which might be sometimes unrealistic, but its the only way to move forward. Light overcomes darkness. It doesn't work the other way around. Many people risk alot, including personal safety and life, to come here. Have you noticed that they are still doing it today, even with all the trouble we have. There are new students at our high school today who just got here. Don't speak a lick of English. But they will, and they will grow and learn and do and be. These are my thoughts, 11 years later, September 12 2012. A Good Day.