Reflecting Light

September 11, 2001

It began in Columbia, SC as a beautiful morning. One that I woke up thinking that I was going to call in to work and see if I could come in later. I just wanted a few hours to sit on my deck and be at peace. You see, for me, I was a completely different person back then. I was single and had just moved to South Carolina and was working at WIS-TV as an assignments editor. I worked 10am - 8pm and savored that time in the morning where I could see the sun. 

Before calling into work to see who was in and if I could come in around lunchtime, I turned on the television, my normal routine, to watch the Today Show around 8:30. Busy making my breakfast, I barely noticed the interruption that indicated something had happened in New York City, possibly the World Trade Center. They were showing live shots of fire coming out of the Twin Towers and before I knew it, the other plane had just crashed into the second tower. 


I honestly can tell you I really didn't know what to think at that point. I called into the station and said, I'm on my way. I knew by the way the the person talked and answered it was going to be a busy day. I still didn't truly understand what was happening or just how much that day would change... our world. 


As the day grew into evening and we were all working as local phone banks were setup, blood drives were created and interviews from all over the area were organized, the enormity of what was happening was just starting to set in. I don't remember what time it was that I went home, for it was far past any bedtime I would have set, but I know that the sun definitely was not shining and the light of the world, for me, had essentially been blown out. 


I hadn't shed a tear yet, but in the quiet of my apartment, I began to weep as I looked at the images and coverage of all that had and was taking place. I had already talked to my family early on, but I do remember calling my mom again and telling her how much I loved her and that I just wanted all of us to be together right then. 


A lot began changing for me, both personally and professionally. I knew that I had a spirit of wanting to help and be able to "pitch in" as needed. I developed that "put me in Coach" mentality. I was admittedly scared of what the world would look like after this, but I also thought about my own mortality. I shivered at the thoughts and shuddered at the images that those in the buildings, planes and areas that were hit and targeted. I was also enraged that any individual on this planet could conspire to do something so evil. 


However, what kept me grounded, was the compassion that reflected in the absence of it all. We were all broken. But we looked to each other for healing. For many of us, we relied on faith, hope and love.


September 11, 2011
I literally woke up from a dream about the WTC events from 9/11/01. It was a bit surreal, but I dream very vividly so I wasn't that surprised.


But today, I spent some time reflecting on my life these past 10 years. Sure, I have changed ... I am now married with a beautiful 3-year old that God has blessed us with. I still love television, but I am now in marketing and public relations without having to worry about odd 2nd or 3rd shift hours. I still have the "whatever it takes" mentality, both personally and professionally.


Yet what continues to amaze me, is the Faith that I have, that no matter what ... no matter what violent or non-violent end my life will have, that God is in control. Many of us, including myself, questioned at the time - Why would God do this to us? Maybe I'm still scratching my head a little, but I now know, He didn't leave us broken. He gives us the sun to keep shining. He shows us our neighbors to lean on. He provides the tools we need to keep up our daily lives. He enriches our lives and can touch the hardest of hearts. 


As spoken in my Sunday School class today, Romans 8, "¹⁸ I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. ¹⁹ For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. ²⁰ For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope ²¹ that^[h] the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God."

My heart2heart tonight, love each other. We don't know what tomorrow will bring. May His light reflect in all we say and do.

I heard this song tonight and it just got me thinking about how there is Hope in the brokenness. It's from Selah and called Hope of the Broken World.