Remembering 9/11

This morning, our principal came on the announcements to announce that we were going to hold a moment of silence at 8:46 am (the time the first tower was hit) in honor of all those who died on 9/11. As I looked around my classroom, I realized that most of my kids don't remember that day. Most of them were only 2 and 3 years old when it happened. It's amazing how much time flies. That day is so ingrained in my memory, but to my students it was an unknown. I didn't go into details with them, just explained that it was a very sad day when some bad men crashed some planes and killed a lot of people. It felt like the understatement of the year.

I remember the day like yesterday. I was on a break from my Methods of teaching Reading Class when I saw people gathered around a tv in the SVSU commons area. I could see a huge fire and that people were shocked, but nothing registered at that time. I assumed it was someplace far away. It was only after another student came back to class that had watched the footage more closely that the story unfolded. Our professor barely blinked an eye and ran class until the last possible moment as usual. I don't know that anyone in the room really heard her though. I left for work at Dow in Midland and put on 790 Newsradio (which I only listen to for school closings). As I listened, my mind raced with what was going on. It felt like a dream. When I got to work, I finally saw the footage of what had really happened and I was horrified. All of it had taken place while I sat in class that morning. I was one of those people that had to watch the footage - I was oddly drawn to it. I still am today.

Looking around my class this morning during the moment of silence I started to wonder, what would be the major world events that would stick with them in their lifetime. For me, 9/11 was one that I won't ever forget. I have strong memories of the Columbine Shootings, the Oklahoma City Bombings, and the disappearance of the Space Shuttle Columbia - all of which are ingrained in my memory as well. The world has been such an evil place with the devil and his workers causing so much despair and destruction. I wonder about what other evils might still be in store for us before God mercifully decides to return to earth. In the meanwhile, I can only hope and pray that the world my students live in is a much safer and happier world, without some of the tragedies that I have witnessed in my life. Days like this should be days that we look back and remember those who tragically lost their lives, but they are also days that we should look forward to the wonders and glories of heaven and look to the God that has the power to heal and save.