Remembering from their perspective

I will always remember the morning of September 11, 2001. That day will forever be burned into my memory. However, I've shared my memory of that day and the days after with you many times. But today, I want to take a moment and think about those who died on this day so many years ago. I want to imagine what they could have been thinking as the morning went from normal to panic to tragedy.

A passenger on one of the planes — Their morning started off like a normal morning, except this morning they were on a plane headed to their destination. They've settled in their seats for the long flight ahead only to be interrupted with terror and fear as terrorists take over their plane. The fear of the unknown compels them. What can they do? We know most tried to call their loved ones from the plane. We've all heard some of the phone calls that were recorded. What we don't hear is their thoughts.  Whether they knew exactly what was about to happen, they knew their lives were in danger, and possibly knew their plane would be responsible for the deaths of so many others.

Workers on one of the top floors of the Twin Towers — I don't live in a city the size of New York City, but I can only imagine the hustle and bustle of every morning trying to get anywhere in NYC. After finally arriving at their building, and the long ride up to their office with a view, they had to be thinking how lucky they were to get to see the big city every single day — full of life. While working on their presentation for a meeting or conversing with a fellow co-worker about their previous evening, the entire building shakes. Wait there are no earthquakes in NYC, right? Some go back to their offices and continue to work not even phased by what just happened. Some immediately lost their lives. Some try to escape and realize there is no way out. Phone lines begin to be tied up with employees calling out for help, and then calling their loved ones. Did they know that day would be their last to head to their office?

The Firefighters and other Emergency Responders — Everyday their job is different: a different accident, a different structural fire, a different emergency situation. But none of them knew what they would experience that day. Their job is to save lives. Whether a police officer, a firefighter, or an EMT — they took an oath to help others. Knowing what had happened to their city, they rushed in to start saving lives. And they did save a lot of lives, not knowing that some of their lives and their brother and sister's lives would soon be lost.

I don't personally know anyone who lost their life on September 11, 2001. I don't know what was going on in their heads — I can only imagine and try to think from their perspective. But, I'd like to believe, and I certainly hope, that all of those who lost their lives knew the Lord. I hope that when they realized that day would be their last on Earth they turned to their Heavenly Father and prayed — prayed for their country, prayed for peace, and prayed for the ones who didn't know Him.

Today, not only should we pray for those who lost loved ones, and those who lost their lives, but we also need to pray for our country. Pray for our leaders who make the decisions for our country. Pray that they will turn to God and ask Him to help guide our country.

There is no doubt, we will always remember!