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Some dates change us...

Holly Wagner
Sep 09, 2011
Category: General
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There are some dates in our lives that change us.

On January 22, 2005 I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I would be forever changed.

I learned to value each day.

I learned that relationships are more important than anything.

I learned to trust in the faithfulness of our God.

I learned that I could take better care of the body I have been entrusted with.

I learned that living in light of eternity is the only way to live.

On September 11, 2001…during the time that the World Trade Center Towers were falling, I was on an airplane flying to Auckland, New Zealand. After we landed, the pilot kept the doors of the plane closed as he informed all the passengers of what had happened in New York City. The shocked silence on the plane was quickly filled with cries and gasps. As we filed out of the plane, the authorities were trying to answer our many questions.

“Can I get a plane home today?”

“How can I get in touch with my family in New York?”

“Who did this?”

“What does this mean?”

I got to my hotel room, and like many of you, watched in horror all that would unfold. I remember crying and not knowing what this all meant. When would I be able to go back to the US? It was just so hard to understand.

I would imagine you remember where you were too.

This event changed us.

For a few months, we were united as human beings. I got hugs from random strangers in New Zealand as they heard my American accent. There just seemed to be a spirit of kindness in so many places. In the US, our patriotism was inspiring. We were not rallying around a political agenda…but rather each other.

We saw courage on so many fronts. From firefighters and police officers to civilians on United flight #93 giving up their lives so that others could be spared. Hundreds of people left the comfort of their homes to go to NYC and help.

We were generous with our patience, our compassion and our money. Our eyes were taken off of our differences and instead focused on what we could do together.

It is like we saw the very best in people come to the forefront.

That is what I remember.

How about you?

Comments(9)

kd sullivan on Sep 9, 2011 3:27pm

How quickly we forget the lessons learned from life altering dates. I remember a sonic boom over our neighborhood, as housewives huddled together fearful of an attack. I remember my children with quizzical faces fixed on my weeping eyes. I remember strangers allowing me to pray with them, because they were filled with terror.

Anonymous on Sep 9, 2011 3:29pm

By the way, I'm excited to see and hear you for the first time at Family Harvest Church for the Bella Conference

kd sullivan on Sep 9, 2011 3:29pm

By the way, I'm excited to see and hear you for the first time at Family Harvest Church for the Bella Conference

Jared B on Sep 9, 2011 3:42pm

I remember being in elementary school class and watching a fuzzy TV as a plane hit the second building, and then both buildings falling. I didn't understand what had happened. The most vivid image I have is of people, after the first building had collapsed, walking outside covered in dust.

And then not too long later seeing American flags being hung from business buildings as America showed that we are United.

Tracy Lee on Sep 9, 2011 5:05pm

I remember I was working at Chilis Resturant in Wollongong AUS. We sat at the bar unbelieving of what we were seeing on the TV. No one came in that day but a couple of American Tourist.. I remember holding a complete stranger in my arms and weeping unconsolably with her for nearly an hour... I remember it was the day I fell in love with America and Her people.

Karla on Sep 9, 2011 6:06pm

I had just gotten to work (near Chicago) and turned on the radio. When the news came, I went downstairs and turned on the office tv. I cried a lot that day and in the days that followed. It was so very surreal. Suddenly, I felt, for the first time, vulnerable as a nation. And then I watched as we came together and did what we do in hard times. We helped one another, we loved one another, and we drew strong together, we prayed together.

Sarah on Sep 9, 2011 7:47pm

I was still living in France and going to high school when it happened. I remember riding the train home after my classes, and a woman told me about it. I cried and asked her many questions, but she had no answer. I went home that night and couldn't stop watching television, the same images over and over. I was only 17, but I already had the dream to come and live in America. I felt really sorry for New yorkers.
I was in NYC right in the heart of the financial district when we had an earthquake a couple weeks ago. I was in shock just seeing people panic because of the earthquake, they were staring at the sky waiting for something to happen. The atmosphere in the streets was very strange, and I realized I could never imagines what it felt like for them when the WTC collapsed.
Even though people were panicked there was a sense of unity. Information was shared with strangers, it felt like New yorkers became a family.

We should be united in our churches on the good and the bad days. God, our Father, is there rain or shine so let's not check-in only when storms come.

GM Houston, TX on Sep 9, 2011 8:55pm

I remember being 21....sleeping in b/c student teaching had not started. Waking up to the phone ringing and thinking my roomate was watching a movie...it was no movie. Things were happening so fast..i wanted to help..was waiting tables and went to work.....such a surreal moment...strangers talking....neighbors being friendly...churches filled to the rim....everyone turning to the man upstairs...why do we need a terroist attack to unite us? How can we get the unity of 9/11 back without the terror????

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