milestones
It is interesting to me the milestones we use to mark our lives or maybe I'm the only one who does that, but I think not. Because if I asked any one of you where you were 13 years ago, everyone would remember. There are days, moments in our lives that mark life. We remember something important happened that day. This is why we celebrate birthdays and anniversaries and holidays, to remember that something important happened.
I think back over the milestones that have marked my life, days and moments that my life changed forever. I roll them over in my head, and I wonder what about that day and moment caused me to be who I am today.
9/11 greatly impacted people, but even more than that, it changed our lives. Life suddenly became different, and it still is. I actually remember when you could go all the way to the gate at the airport with your loved one. I remember when you could leave your shoes on, when security wasn't a big deal. I remember when you could take liquids onto a plane. All of that because of a clear September morning.
I don't know that I always realize the impact of a moment when it happens. The impact is usually just seen over time, like the ripples after a rock hits still water. Rarely am I aware of how important a moment is until it has passed.
As I reflect on the milestone of this day, my heart is drawn in a different direction that it has been drawn before. I have found myself pondering the lives of the terrorists. Did they know the impact that they would have? Were they scared? Did their families know what they were doing? Did their families agree with them or try to stop them? Was it as much a shock to their families as it was to the people and families whose lives would change forever?
My heart hurts for them, hurts for their families. I grieve the lives they took, and I grieve that they lost their lives. I grieve because I know that the heart of the Father grieves for them for He is not willing that any should perish. Death grieves Him.
September 11, 2001, God's heart mourned. He mourned for those who were killed. He mourned for the families that were broken. He mourned for children who would grow up not knowing their fathers or mothers. He mourned for fathers and mothers who wouldn't see their children grow up. And He mourned for terrorists who inflicted that pain.
I remember today as a milestone, and my heart grieves for the pain that ripples out from that impact. And through remembering, I allow myself to be changed just a little, to see differently than I have before, to come closer to the heart of God. I remember today to mark the faithfulness of God; God who mourns for victim and terrorist alike.
I think back over the milestones that have marked my life, days and moments that my life changed forever. I roll them over in my head, and I wonder what about that day and moment caused me to be who I am today.
9/11 greatly impacted people, but even more than that, it changed our lives. Life suddenly became different, and it still is. I actually remember when you could go all the way to the gate at the airport with your loved one. I remember when you could leave your shoes on, when security wasn't a big deal. I remember when you could take liquids onto a plane. All of that because of a clear September morning.
I don't know that I always realize the impact of a moment when it happens. The impact is usually just seen over time, like the ripples after a rock hits still water. Rarely am I aware of how important a moment is until it has passed.
As I reflect on the milestone of this day, my heart is drawn in a different direction that it has been drawn before. I have found myself pondering the lives of the terrorists. Did they know the impact that they would have? Were they scared? Did their families know what they were doing? Did their families agree with them or try to stop them? Was it as much a shock to their families as it was to the people and families whose lives would change forever?
My heart hurts for them, hurts for their families. I grieve the lives they took, and I grieve that they lost their lives. I grieve because I know that the heart of the Father grieves for them for He is not willing that any should perish. Death grieves Him.
September 11, 2001, God's heart mourned. He mourned for those who were killed. He mourned for the families that were broken. He mourned for children who would grow up not knowing their fathers or mothers. He mourned for fathers and mothers who wouldn't see their children grow up. And He mourned for terrorists who inflicted that pain.
I remember today as a milestone, and my heart grieves for the pain that ripples out from that impact. And through remembering, I allow myself to be changed just a little, to see differently than I have before, to come closer to the heart of God. I remember today to mark the faithfulness of God; God who mourns for victim and terrorist alike.
Comments
Post a Comment