Posted by Dena on September 11, 2003, at 9:45:25
In reply to September 11, posted by Penny on September 11, 2003, at 8:47:15
Hi Penny,
I don't know you yet, but I share many of the same emotions as you regarding September 11th.
I live in Fairfax, Virginia, about 10 miles from the Pentagon. Both my father (who was in the army) & myself worked in the Pentagon, in the exact same wing which was attacked (although many years prior to the attack). Two men in my church worked in that wing on that day. Miraculously, both of them were called away to other locations (on separate tasks) that very morning, & their lives were spared.
It's still amazing to me that so many people who were *supposed* to be in either the World Trade Center or the Pentagon that morning (or who were supposed to be on one of the planes), felt a sense of warning that they shouldn't go through with their plans. It's a horrible tragedy that 3,000 people perished that day. But there were supposed to be over 10,000 people at work in the World Trade Center, & hundreds more at the Pentagon (that very wing had just undergone a renovation & many people hadn't yet moved back into their offices. The renovation itself had fortified that wing - and only that wing - which prevented the entire Pentagon from being destroyed).
I can see the hand of God's mercy on that day. It could have been so much worse that it was. I by no means minimize the horror if it - my husband is a salesman to the federal government, & his work often takes him into the Pentagon. For several hours, I didn't know where he was that morning. I deeply felt the horror. And I felt that same horror & helplessness last year at the same time, when this area in which I live was under seige by a sniper. The very areas that he chose to shoot his victims were stores & gas stations that I used.
But I believed then & I know now that I won't leave this earth one moment before God has already determined that I will. There's nothing I can to do change that appointment with Him. I take prudent precautions, but I don't worry anymore about what will happen to me.
This whole area is in mourning today because of what happened two years ago.
I hope & pray that God will have mercy on this country & heal our wounds.
Shalom, Dena
poster:Dena
thread:259017
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/grief/20030903/msgs/259028.html