9/11 -- Thank You To All That Serve!
Hello everybody.
At the time of this writing, almost to the very minute, six years ago now, I was just on my way to work in a nice New York office. Shortly after arriving at my office, while standing around talking with a few other guys, drinking some coffee, eating bagels, and watching the morning news, began the horrific events that were about to take place over the next few hours.
As I stood there transfixed and in awe, I happened to look around the room and began to see a wide range of emotions. Some of the guys where like I was - amazed at what was happening, and some of the guys were pretty solemn, and one or two of the guys I noticed where visibly starting to break down. As one of them began to mutter to himself that his sister worked in the towers, I think most of us in there realized things were not as what we thought they were.
From the very beginning I sensed this was not something that just happened by mistake -- a single airplane gotten totally off-course. I knew deep inside that it was much worse, something my generation had yet to see. More like something my fathers generation, and my grandfathers generation had seen, but not mine. Over the course of the next few minutes and hours my feelings turned out to be true.
I remember calling my sister back in California and waking her up and telling her to turn on the TV - I guess I got to the phone before the millions of others because I got right through. We sat there on the phone for probably 45 minutes watching what was happening. Being from California it was hard for me to imagine, before I first went there, that such massive buildings existed, such large populations could be fit in such small places, and what utter chaos NYC really is.
I vowed to myself later that day that I was "outta there". Of course, I had major contracts I still needed to finish, no real plans to just "up and leave"... but I KNEW it was time for this California boy to get outta the big city.
Try as I might, that just did not happen. Nor did it happen the next day, nor the next day. It seemed like no matter what I said, what I showed, or who I called, the nice folks at the NY boarder lines were just not going to let me outta NY.
But, I am a persistent man, and a week later I finally got out of NY with all of my belongings, and some pride still intact. (it turns out a California State Drivers License isn't "sufficient proof of identification" for some people in the great state of NY, and it took me having my passport sent overnight from CA to NY to prove I was who I said I was.)
Over the course of the next three days (I was driving, not flying) as I travelled across America I understood -- for the very first time in my life -- what "American Pride" really means! As I drove mile-after-mile-after-mile across America, at almost every overpass, at almost every city limit sign, anywhere and everywhere, were signs put up by "average Americans" who simply wanted to show their pride, love, thoughts and prayers for others. It truly touched me in a way I will hopefully never forget.
After getting back home I resolved to change the ways of my life. Though I was already a 'major player' in the Christian software sector, I just knew inside it was time to take it up another notch. It was time to get serious, or get out.
Of course, during those three days of travel across our great homeland, I lost millions in contracts as stocks plummeted and companies, churches, and christian ministries took the brunt end of the economic downfall. In the end of all things factored in, I was forced to scale back the ministry by almost three-quarters of what it had been. Something that hurt the pride and the drive to continue, and perhaps a bit of doubt that I should not even continue.
However, God is a faithful God, and now - six years later - my ministry has gone to heights I never could have imagined. The ministry is ministering to more people on a monthly basis now than we did six years ago in an entire year. God is faithful, amen!
Today, as I have on almost every September 11th, since 2001, I would like to offer forth a prayer of protection for those that serve the great nation of the United States.
To all of those who serve in the ministry of Christ - Thank you!
To all of those who serve in the military - Thank you!
To all of those who serve in the White House - Thank you!
To all of those who serve in the government sector - Thank you!
To all of those who serve in the law enforcement sector - Thank you!
To all of those who serve in the fire departments across America - Thank you!
To all of those who serve in the educational sector - Thank you!
To all of those who serve and give of their times so that others may be able to better their own lives - Thank You!
It is my deepest prayer that today will be a day that we can all stop and remember those who have, who do, and who will in the future, be a servant, provide protection, and continue to make America the great nation that it is.
May our Father in Heaven above continue to look down upon you, to shine His light of coutances upon you, and to see you through another day, and another year, with all of the blessings that He beholds.
For Christ's Ministry,
John B. Abela
Founder/Owner, ChristianBlog.Com
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Author: abelajohnb
Location: California USA
Gender: Male
Age: 36
Blog Entries: 161 (archive)
Blog Comments: 624
raised in a private christian school until his senior year, mr. abela has been around the christian faith nearly his entire life. at the age of twenty-two mr. abela was called to the ministry as a lay-minister where he served as a youth minister for nearly seven years and then...
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