9/11 and 1999

September 11. The very mention of that date brings horrible memories. My day will be going well and I will pick up a gallon of milk with the expiration date of 9/11 and I will have to hold back the tears. So strange how an entire nation can change in one day.

I am hurting on this day. I recall being a student at LCU and being excited about urban ministry in New York City. Kellie and I had been praying for some time for an opportunity to do ministry in New York. I had never been to New York, but always wanted to visit. Kellie grew up on Long Island and spent some time in the city. Kellie was training with the airlines in August and September of 2001. I went to her graduation. My first time to see the city! The sights, the smells the sounds - they are all so vivd in my mind. I loved it! I wanted to stay and not return to school - but I knew the wise choice would be to return to school. We spent Saturday and Sunday looking around the city. Moday we missed a flight and would end up leaving on the last flight out on September 10. I woke up early Tuesday to get ready for class. I sat in class as we discussed the Old Testament Prophets. I was telling people about my trip and how Kellie and I wanted to move and do mission work in NYC. As I was leaving the building to head to chapel, my missions instructor pulled me aside. He asked if I heard the news. He explained the World Trade Center had been hit by a plane. I was in shock. He took me into the office and we watched the news. Chapel did not take place the same way that week. On Tuesday, we just watched the news and prayed. Part of me was so glad to be safe in Lubbock, TX with my wife - but part of me wanted to be in New York. What a tragedy, but what an opportunity to serve, to share the love of Jesus, to share the foundation that could be found only in Christ.

September 11 will never be the same. Our nation will not be the same - our world will never be the same. I will never be the same. I have scars that I do not know how to heal. When i think healing has taken place, something will come along and tear the scar off once again exposing the wound. We moved to Long Island upon graduating college. Unfortunately, it did not work out. We still have a big place in our hearts for New York. We still long to return there to do ministry some day.

...Our life has changed a lot since 2001. We have a child and are in the process of adopting a little boy from Ethiopia. Today (September 11) is New Years in Ethiopia referred to as Enkutatashe. It marks a new beginning. Today, I am trying to celebrate a new beginning. According to the Ethiopian calendar, the year is now 1999. I can't help but wonder how our little boy is doing. Is he celebrating? Does he understand he will soon have a new beginning? A new family? A new life?

What about myself? Am I celebrating a new beginning? A new life? A new day to grow closer to Christ? A new day to share his love?

Thank you for your prayers. Pray for our nation, our world. While we remember the tragedy of September 11, 2001 - try to remember that today marks a new beginning. Oh, and have a good 1999! God bless