Today’s blog is not about board games but a subject that touches reality for many of us. 20 years ago yesterday was a day that will forever be imbedded into our hearts and minds. The gruesome foreign terror attacks on the United States.
I think that most generations alive today have historic events that they will have vivid memories off. For example…. Listening to the Sputnik “beeps”, the JFK assassination, the first man on the moon, the fall of Saigon, the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster, the fall of the Berlin Wall (and the communist bloc), and the 9/11 attacks.
Over the past few days watching and listening to the old reports and coverage of the events of that day does weigh in on my heart. I still remember the Challenger explosion, and I sure as heck remember with vivid details the events of September 11th 2001. Where I was, what I was doing, who I called, the bucket loads of tears, the fear that built up as the additional events happened that day. It was a day in which the world did stop turning. All flights were grounded for days, all transportation was halted, the world literally shut down.
Where were you when the world stopped turning
On that September day?
Were you in the yard with your wife and children
Or working on some stage in LA?
Did you stand there in shock at the site of that black smoke
Rising against that blue sky?
Did you shout out in anger, in fear for your neighbor
Or did you just sit down and cry?
Did you weep for the children who lost their dear loved ones
Pray for the ones who don't know?
Did you rejoice for the people who walked from the rubble
And sob for the ones left below?
Did you burst out in pride, for the red, white and blue
And the heroes who died just doing what they do?
Did you look up to heaven for some kind of answer
And look at yourself and what really matters?
I'm just a singer of simple songs
I'm not a real political man
I watch CNN but I'm not sure I can tell you
The difference in Iraq and Iran
But I know Jesus and I talk to God
And I remember this from when I was young
Faith, hope and love are some good things He gave us
And the greatest is love
Where were you when the world stopped turning
On that September day?
Teaching a class full of innocent children
Or driving down some cold interstate?
Did you feel guilty 'cause you're a survivor
In a crowded room, did you feel alone?
Did you call up your mother and tell her you love her?
Did you dust off that Bible at home?
Did you open your eyes, and hope it never happened
Close your eyes and not go to sleep?
Did you notice the sunset the first time in ages
Or speak with some stranger on the street?
Did you lay down at night and think of tomorrow
Go out and buy you a gun?
Did you turn off that violent old movie you're watching
And turn on "I Love Lucy" reruns?
Did you go to a church and hold hands with some stranger
Stand in line and give your own blood?
Did you just stay home and cling tight to your family
Thank God you had somebody to love?
I'm just a singer of simple songs
I'm not a real political man
I watch CNN but I'm not sure I can tell you
The difference in Iraq and Iran
But I know Jesus and I talk to God
And I remember this from when I was young
Faith, hope and love are some good things
He gave us
And the greatest is love
I'm just a singer of simple songs
I'm not a real political man
I watch CNN but I'm not sure I can tell you
The difference in Iraq and Iran
But I know Jesus and I talk to God
And I remember this from when I was young
Faith, hope and love are some good things He gave us
And the greatest is love
And the greatest is love
And the greatest is love
Where were you when the world stopped turning
On that September day?
Our nation and the world became more united and more patriotic than ever following the events of that day. It was a new battle that we never saw coming. It changed how the day to day life we lived to the point that we, the older generations, can remember what it was like before and for the younger generations to question us if it was really like the way we remembered (for example… meeting people in the airport terminal when the got off the plane, not just at luggage pickup).
Over time, that unity has long faded. Our nation is again in shambles over various events that have happened in recent years (and unfortunately for events from 100+ years ago being “blamed” for today’s unrest). With the “closing" of the War on Terror, and fall of Afghanistan in the recent days, I am actually afraid that the world is left open for another event such as the 9/11 attacks.
I look at my beautiful 2 year old daughter and pray that the only thing that she would have to deal with is the Covid-19 pandemic which she won’t even remember because of her age. In reality, I know that this will not be the case. I know that she is going to have to be tougher than any of us today or even the generations from the World War’s.
Let us always remember and never forget how our world had changed that day for good. Let us pray that the future generations may never have to deal with things like we did “on that September Day.”
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