Today is a day of remembering!! As I write this article it is the evening of 9.11.2025. I remember the Alan Jackson song – “Where were you when the world stopped turning…” Of course he is referring to 9.11.2001. I do remember where I was – in Devils Lake, North Dakota. I was taking a shower when Nancy stuck her head in the bathroom and said, “Keith, an airplane crashed into a skyscraper in New York City.” My first thought was a little plane and then Nancy said, it was a big plane. Knowing just a little bit about aviation and airplanes, I thought it unlikely this was an accident…but I supposed it would be possible. But then I watched as the second jetliner hit the other tower, and I knew in that moment this was no accident. In a sense, the world did stop turning…in so many ways!
So much has happened and changed since this day 24 years ago. Probably one of the areas where we still notice some of the biggest changes is that of air travel, from the documentation to the TSA experience, air travel has changed significantly, and understandably so. I wonder what each of you think about as having changed because of 9-11?
Something else that I remember feeling in our nation because of 9-11 is the sense of shock we all felt…but then there was a sense of coming together. Some would say that we had a common enemy, but others said we suddenly realized how precious life was and how quickly things can change. There was a brief “bump” in church attendance, for a few months. But then it dropped back to previous levels. There was still a sense of positivity, that we had a common reason to look for and share the good in the world in the midst of such devastation that we were all feeling. There were so many stories of bravery, as well as neighbor helping neighbor, stranger helping stranger, all in the name of healing the hurt of our nation and making the world a better place to live.
Much has happened in our nation since 9-11-2001. This year on 9.11, once again our nation finds itself reeling from violence and tragic death. On September 10 a man was shot and killed at a political rally at a university in Utah at which he was making a presentation. That same day another school shooting took place in Colorado in which 2 students were wounded and the shooter died by suicide. Once again, the cycle of violence and anger continues, and the presence of evil is alive and well in our nation.
There is already a lot of noise on social media; rage, accusations, name calling, conspiracies – exactly what our world needs less of. Instead, what our world needs is exactly what our Mission Statement says. Our world is in desperate need of more people who say, “We exist to be the hands and feet of Jesus, showing love and grace to all we encounter by living out God’s Kingdom together.” My word to us all is, don’t join the noise and hatred that is so rampant, but instead join your voice with those calmly calling for peace, justice, and seeking a new way to deal with differences and disagreement. More than ever I believe in the power and the need for our church family to reflect and lean into our Mission Statement. Our community and world needs this.
I also remember from 24 years ago that there were many days of despair and uncertainty. It feels somewhat the same way now. But remember, there is light, there is hope, there is the possibility of new beginnings, and it begins with just one person, me, you, all of us together deciding there is a different set of values that we live for…and that’s God’s Kingdom Values. This is what it means when we say, “We exist to be the hands and feet of Jesus, showing love and grace to all we encounter by living out God’s Kingdom together.”
Pastor Keith