9/11

A nice piece in the Christian Chronicle has been written regarding blogger Bill William's experience at the scene of the disaster of 9/11.  The following is from the Chronicle.

The events of Sept. 11, 2001, are more than a series of television images for Bill Williams. He still remembers the smell — even the taste — of Ground Zero, after the twin towers of the World Trade Center collapsed. Nearly 1 million tons of steel and concrete became a giant incinerator for the bodies of more than 2,000 people. The smell of burned flesh and jet fuel was heavy in the air.

It’s not something he likes to talk about — even five years later.

Williams, senior minister for the Cedars church in Wilmington, Del., served as a volunteer chaplain at the site of the attacks. Offering comfort and prayers for hundreds of emergency responders and recovery workers, the minister listened to stories from people struggling to cope with the evil they had seen firsthand.

“Not a day goes by that I am not affected by the events of Sept. 11,” Williams said.

The experience has made him more sensitive to people dealing with smaller-scale, personal disasters.

“Because we witness these sorts of disasters so frequently, we’ve become somewhat desensitized to the pain,” he said. “I hope that I’m able to be more compassionate to others as a result of having been in the belly of the abyss.”

(You can find the remainder of the article here.)

9/11 is one of those important markers in our lives.  I can remember where I was and what I was doing the day President John F. Kennedy was assassinated.  I suspect I will always remember where I was and what I was doing when I heard that two planes had crashed into the World Trade Center.

Comments

[L.L. Barkat]

I was in the car... it was surreal... I felt helpless as my kids heard the news too... as they heard that this world is not only a beautiful but also a terrible place.

[Greg England]

It was a day of fear and uncertainty ... that will never go away this side of eternity.

[bill]

Thank you, Jim, for the tip of the hat.

May we never forget those whose lives were senselessly taken from them.

May we also remember those who selflessly sacrificed their lives so that many would-be victims were spared.

May those whose hearts are bent on vilolent destruction of others experience a change of heart and direct these energies to helping others.

— — —

A Prayer for Humanity

May God lead us from death to life,
from falsehood to truth.
May God lead us from despair to hope,
from fear to trust.
May God lead us from hate to love,
from war to peace.
May God fill our hearts, our world,
and our universe with peace.

- bill Williams

[Ted Gossard]

Jim,
Yes, I remember the day JFK was assassinated. As well as 9/11.

Thanks for sharing Bill's testimony. And, Bill, thanks for sharing. Amen.