7 years have passed since the terrorist attack on September 11, 2001, or just 9/11 as it is commonly referred.
I am not sure what I feel about the commonality of the reference. Please do not misinterpret what I am about to say but some times it sounds almost flippant. I did not say that when you, me, the media or anyone says 9/11 that we are being flippant or disrespectful. It's just that sometimes it flows to easily out of our mouth.
When we refer to that day, those events, the people who died, the heroes who acted, the leaders who stepped in . . . we should give all reverence and respect. We should not shorten it or diminish it in any way.
Perhaps those feelings are my personal hang up and should be kept to myself and that really was just a precursor to the main point.
In some ways, September 11, 2001 was a long time ago.
For several months after September 11, 2001 there was an increase in feelings of patriotism. People were much more patient with others. The fragility of life was in the forefront of our minds.
The privileges of being American and the freedoms we enjoy had been threatened. They were not being taken for granted. The cost to gain them had been stirred. Comparisons to December 7, 1941, February 26, 1993 and April 19, 1995, were frequent.
Attendance at churches around the country swelled. Public prayers and faith based statements were made with boldness.
Confessions of faith, family, and country were being made with conviction.
Every American has been affected by that day, even those who were not yet born. There are many after affects still in place but some have faded. Time has eroded some of the affects. Time has diminished some of the most important affects of that day.
Just yesterday I saw/experienced several angry people on the verge of road rage because of something another driver did or didn't do.
We say our family/loved ones are important and yet they are the ones we express our anger at most frequently or completely ignore them.
We say God is important and God bless you etc. but deny the truth and power of His word. We do not follow His teaching and we do not seek Him on a daily basis.
Time will prove our convictions. Did we really change the most important things in our lives because of September 11, 2001?
I am guilty of the time erosion. Are you? We are not perfect. But we can remember that day. We can honor those who died; and those who lived by choosing to live today by what we claim is most important. We can live today and tomorrow by the conviction of what we said we were going to do back on September 11, 2001.
It was not for nothing.
That day meant something.
That day MEANS something.
LIVE TODAY.
Rick Trowe and I'm Standing Up!
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