Back post- 9/11

I seem to be doing just that.  Yesterday was 9/11 as we now know it. I thought about the event of 9/11 off  and on on all day.

It was early in the morning 13 years ago.  I was in the surgery waiting room of Baptist Hospital East in Louisville, KY with Susan Anderson and her father Don Phillip because Susan's mother Barbara was having a major surgery.  In the middle of our conversation Don started walking towards the TV screen and we followed.  We watched the first hit with horror, and then the second ... all on TV as it was happening.  I can't describe how I felt in my stomach.  I rushed back to the Church because I knew some PW women were setting up the Eline Hall for the PW kick off luncheon.  It was a Tuesday.  I went strait to the ladies in the Eline hall and in the kitchen. They were crying.  I gathered them and we prayed. They asked if we should cancel the kick off.  I remember saying to them, "No.  That will be letting evil win.  We will go on and have our kick off, learn our first lesson of the year's Bible study and pray for those who lost loved ones."  They all agreed.  We had our kick off with many tears on our faces.

I ran back down to the office and send a custodian to open the chapel.  Somehow I knew people will be pouring in to pray.  And they did.  Next, I called John Coffin, the parish associte of the Church if he would come and hold a noon time prayer with anyone who come to the chapel.  Graciously John did.  I remember getting calls from people whose loved ones lived in NY city who could not get a hold of their loved ones on the phone.  They too came to the chapel and prayed.  I remember, being so very busy that day talking with people on the phone and in person all day long but my feeling of bieng helpless was the most tiring of that day.  The following days were not much different.  The chapel being opened and people coming in from all over the place praying.  Some just sitting in silent.  Some sobbing softly sitting on a pew without a word.

I remember praying for those whose loved ones were killed.  I remember how I wish it did not happen. I remember how wonderful Americans are helping in the midst of unbelievable chaos.  I remember thanking God for those who went to NYC to be helpful and were being helpful.

I remembered and I prayed :
Lord, have mercy upon those who lost their loved ones that day.
Christ, have mercy up those who helped.
In Jesus' name.
Amen.