9/11, more than a tragedy

"Tragedy" is often the term used in describing the events of September 11, 2001.  I guess that's a pretty good word for it, but in rare cases throughout history I think our language comes up short in terms of descriptive words for monumental circumstances.  The thing about tragedies, though, is they are usually things that just happen; like natural disasters, train derailments or car accidents.  9/11 didn't just happen, it was perpetrated.  A crime was committed.  An act was carried out.  A statement was made.

Two other things happened on that September morning.  First, evil was defined and displayed.  What took place was calculated and executed by evildoers.  The men that planned and carried out the actions against the people of the United States did so in a manner and in terms only possibly devised by the darkest of sinful nature.  It was demonstrated to us live on national television that evil does indeed exist in the world and we must be vigilant in our prayers and actions to combat it.

The second thing that happened on that day was blessings. Nearly 3,000 people died on 9/11, but between the two towers of the World Trade Center it's estimated that about 50,000 people did business there daily.  Such an impact as the jets made could have brought the buildings down much quicker, but enough time elapsed to get thousands of people out.  If the towers had fallen over sideways the devastation would have been exponentially greater, but they fell nearly within their own footprint.  The blessings go on and on.  Phone calls that people were able to make to loved ones before they perished, survivors found in a mountain of debris and passengers aboard flight 93 who were able to redirect away from a population center.

One of the greatest blessings from that day was the connection between us through the American spirit.  A spirit ingrained in us by our Creator.  When someone needs a hand America steps up to any challenge.

I attended a 9/11 memorial service this morning in Cleburne, TX.  As would be expected the bravery of the firefighters and police officers that ran towards the danger on 9/11/01 was hailed as heroism and indeed it was.  They trained constantly to save lives and kept in the back of their head somewhere the knowledge that any day may be their last due to the nature of their profession.  Nobody could have ever imagined what would transpire on that day though.  Consider those who have remained in those professions since 9/11 and those who have chosen that career path.  With all knowledge of the extreme evil that exists in the world one of the greatest blessings is that men and women continue to put on those uniforms and accept that possible task of saving any one of us the same way their fallen brethren did before.

God Bless the men and women who protect us daily and God Bless America.

A.J.