Monday, September 11, 2006

September 11

I can hardly believe it's been five years. I, like most people, remember exactly what I was doing five years ago today when news of the terrorist attacks first broke. I was a senior in high school, in Biology II class. We were about to take a test, and our drama-queen of a teacher ran in and gasped loudly, putting her hands over her mouth. Then she simply said, "I can't tell you what happened till you take your test!"

We thought she was a lunatic. (Actually, she was a lunatic. But that is beside the point.) She eventually did tell us the inaccurate information that New York had been bombed and told us it was the end of the world. I went through the rest of the day, glued to the television though some teachers would only let us put the picture on, but not the sound. I remember being furious with my keyboarding class which was made up of mostly freshman, except myself and one other senior. I was trying to watch the coverage, and they wouldn't be quiet. I couldn't hear well. So I yelled at them. I was a little tense that day. I felt on the verge of tears the whole school-day, but did not cry till I got home.

It is odd how so much has changed since then. Maybe it was something else or a combination of things, but I feel like the world kicked into high speed after that day. Maybe I just started becoming aware of it around that time. Even now, I try to keep up with current events, but they come to fast. One day it's a conflict in this sandy country, the next day it's in another nation. One morning I hear news of earthquakes and floods and fire; the next day's top story is a tsunami, hurricane, tornado, etc.

Wow. The bigness of the world's problems just hits me sometimes.

I get so overwhelmed I can't always watch the news. I have to put down the newspaper, ignore the breaking news of today.

I have to go elsewhere. And this is one of my favorite places. Maybe it will mean something to you, too. Ask me about it if you want.

Psalm 46
" God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day. Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts. The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Come and see the works of the LORD, the desolations he has brought on the earth. He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear, he burns the shields with fire."

"Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."

The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.

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