9-11-02: Fears and Hopes
Vol. 5 No. 37 September 9, 2002
As the first anniversary of the tragic events of 9-11-01 are upon us, I find myself (probably like many of you) reflecting on the last year and how it has affected me, how it has impacted our nation, and the world. Or, if it has. I've narrowed my reflections down to two categories: Fears and Hopes.
My fears include. . .
I fear that nothing has changed. Some of the materials I read indicate that although shortly after the events of 9-11-01 the interests in spiritual things increased significantly. Prayer was more common. Using God's name properly was more important. Discussion of the topic of God's providential care for His people was very common. Now, a year later, it seems that much of that has subsided. I fear that is possible for us to experience as a people and less than a year later have only surface expressions of true change.
I fear that we have changed too much. The events of 9-11-01 caused some to turn to God in loving trust, and caused others to turn away from Him in anger and rage. Some have come away from 9-11-01 afraid to live, afraid to trust, afraid to travel, afraid to hope. Some have developed a deeper patriotic spirit, others have deepened there commitment to an anti-patriotic spirit. I fear we have changed too much.
I fear that some are more convinced than ever that being different is bad. The way one looks, the color of the skin, the way one dresses, even the language that is spoken is not what makes one good or bad. What makes one good or bad depends on what is in and what comes out of the heart. As a result of 9-11-01, some now perceive anyone who is "not like us" to be against us. The opposite is also concerning: just because someone looks like us and talks like us does not indicate the condition of the heart.
I fear that we will adopt a belief that power makes right. Political power. Economic power. Intellectual power. Physical power. Might makes right. If my weapons are bigger than your weapons, and if my armies can defeat your armies, that is proof that I am right. In the search for physical supremacy I fear we will lose sight of where our true source of power comes from.
I fear that because of what happened or did not happen on 9-11-01 many are doubting the presence of God in the world. God was present in the Towers, in the planes, in the Pentagon, on the ground, in the streets, in the homes, and in the hearts of everyone who suffered and or died on 9-11-01. His presence did not prevent what happen, nor did it cause it. But, He was there. He is still available for all who choose to allow Him to rule their hearts. I fear that we will not do that.
My hopes include...
I hope that we are more aware of God's presence in our lives. At least, I hope we are more aware of the need for God's presence in our lives. Even if we felt that on 9-11-01 God was absent, surely we allowed ourselves to feel those things because we needed to have Him in our lives. I hope that we are opening ourselves to allow Him to be in our lives so that others will know that He is present because they see Him in us, and through us.
I hope that we are wise enough to know the difference between God's righteous judgment and hateful revenge, and courageous enough to allow for God's righteous judgment. Needless to say there has been and will continue to be much talk about war and the price that is paid for freedom. There is a place for that. There is a time for that. Now may be the time. I only hope that we are wise enough to know the right time, and open enough to God's leading should we discover we are in the wrong.
I hope that those who are children of God are becoming more aware of and committed to the fact that our identifying mark is love. We are to be identified not by our name, our power, our political party or view, it is not possessions or position, it is not correctness, nor is the company we keep. Our mark that identifies us as God's children is that we love one another as God has loved us (John 13).
I hope that those who have suffered most and lost the most due to the events of 9-11-01 are being surrounded by those who love them and can guide them to the comforting arms of God. I hope and pray that as God's people we will be instruments in His hands to provide some of that comfort.
I hope that our fears (my fears) will not become so strong that I lose hope in the One who created the world, can calm the storms, and can heal the wounded soul.
"One thing I ask of the Lord,
this is what I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord
all the days of my life,
to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord
and to seek him in his temple.
For in the day of trouble
he will keep me safe in his dwelling;
he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle
and set me high upon a rock.
Then my head will be exalted
above the enemies who surround me;
at his tabernacle will I sacrifice with shouts of joy;
I will sing and make music to the Lord."
(Psalm 27:4-6)
I have some fears, but my hope is in the Lord,
Tom
© Copyright 2002. All rights reserved.
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