Remembering 9/11

            On September 11, 2001, I was the spokesperson for San Antonio International Airport. I will never forget that morning when a co-worker said, “Lisa, turn on your TV.”  I turned on the television in my office and watched in horror as an airplane crashed into one of the towers at the World Trade Center.

            I didn’t have time to process what was going on because about a minute later, my phone rang.  It was the former spokesperson for the airport. She prepared me saying, “Lisa, this is going to affect you.” Her words were prophetic, as an hour and a half later, we were holding a news conference at the airport to reassure our city that we were doing everything within our control to make sure San Antonio International was safe.

            After about a 48 hour ground stop, I can remember preparing to do an interview outside the airport, when a Continental Airlines plane took off for Houston to get in place for the next day when flights would resume. Everything stopped for a moment. It was symbolic, it was emotional and it affected me.

            So this week, when I visited the 9/11 Memorial and stood by the massive fountains where the twin towers once stood, I was affected again, moved as I remembered the tragedy that happened on 9/11. The names of the victims are etched on the wall around the fountain so I prayed for families who lost loved ones on that day. For me the water represented healing. Healing for the families of the thousands who died because of the senseless act of terrorism carried through on that day; healing for the nation; healing for the soul.

            There was also hope that one day the world will be made right by God and hate and anger will no longer reign. The Bible promises that day will come. In the meantime, we have to cling to God and the words of 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.

            Yes, the Lord is with us and one day, all of us who believe will stand by another body of water near the throne of God.  We will no longer be sorrowful.  We will see the face of God, we will experience eternal healing and we will be affected.