Praying on September 11

I was in seventh grade English when the planes hit the towers. I even remember my general position in the class, right around the middle but towards the right. Everyone my age or old seems to remember these details due to the shock and trauma of the day. I remember an administrator coming to the door and whispering something in Mrs. Hubbard’s ear. The look of horror on her face and the tears that filled her eyes stay with me.

Me around 7th grade. You don’t want to see the high definition one…

They rolled a TV into our class. It was a big box TV on a tall metal cart. We watched replays of the towers falling, dust-covered fire fighters and citizens fighting their way through the debris. I think I was stuck to the TV for days. I was only 12 and didn’t really understand the impact of it all, but I was old enough to know that something world-shaking had happened. It sunk in more as President Bush gave his speech to the nation, beginning the War or Terror.

I knew knowing about Al Qaeda or Osama Bin Laden. Never in my young life had I thought for more than a moment about Iraq or Afghanistan. But inside me welled up a new sense of patriotism. We as Americans had a common enemy and the evil they had done was undeniable.

Source: https://www.cnn.com/2016/05/09/politics/gallery/bush-september-11-photos/index.html

It is a cliché to say that our country today is splintered. We are a far cry from the unity evoked by 9-11. The complications of living in the 21st century have created great divides. On September 11, we were proud to be Americans; not many hold the same sense of patriotism today. The current horrors of Afghanistan have created deep resentment towards the government from both sides of the aisle. Is this the legacy of our War on Terror? Is resentment the only unifying thing we have left? We would be fools to think the church has been immune to such divides.

Regardless of our sense of patriotism or where you stand on the health of our country, we can agree that what happened 20 years ago was wicked. And we can agree that the modern tragedy of Afghanistan is profoundly sad. As Christians, this should drive us to prayer and action.

Jesus tells us to mourn with those who mourn. We mourn for the families still without a son or daughter, mom or dad, sister or brother. We mourn for young children who will never meet their grandparents. We mourn for the people of Afghanistan. We mourn for the women who may face tremendous regression of progress. We mourn for the men who will face the daily threat of death. We mourn for the children who grow up amidst terror. We mourn for the families of the dead – civilian and soldiers alike. We join the Psalms and Lamentations in the cries of despair recorded there.

Source: https://www.wsj.com/articles/three-killed-in-kabul-airport-as-afghans-scramble-to-escape-taliban-11629096273

And so, we pray things like this:

How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever?
    How long will you hide your face from me?
How long must I take counsel in my soul
    and have sorrow in my heart all the day?
How long shall my enemy be exalted over me? (Ps. 13:-2)

Or like this:

How long, Lord, will the wicked,
    how long will the wicked be jubilant?

They pour out arrogant words;
    all the evildoers are full of boasting.
They crush your people, Lord;
    they oppress your inheritance.
They slay the widow and the foreigner;
    they murder the fatherless.
They say, “The Lord does not see;
    the God of Jacob takes no notice.” (Ps. 94:3-7)

 And let us not forget to pray like this:

The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price.

He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! (Rev. 22: 17, 20)

Source: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/9-11-anniversary-twin-towers-new-york-b1914898.html

And if we are praying, let us not forget to pray like this:

You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, (Matthew 5:43-44)

Two others, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. 33 And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. 34 And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:32-34)

Let this day stir our hearts with the hope of Christ. Let it cause us to look inwardly and critically at the hate and anger we harbor. Come quickly, Lord Jesus. What hope do we have but you?