Alan Jackson’s question takes us back ten years ago, today, almost to this hour.
Do you remember where you were? How did you feel when you learned that a plane had crashed into the World Trade Center? Do you remember how your heart sank when the second plane crashed, and it became evident that this was no accident, but an act of war?
On that day 3,000 men, women, and children died. It is estimated that almost 900 first responders lost their lives that day and in the days, weeks, and years that have followed because of their efforts to save others.
Do you remember the eerie silence of the rest of that day? The skies were empty. There were no planes traveling, no tell-tale contrails lining the sky.
Things have changed, haven’t they? Most folks never gave a second thought to being in a skyscraper until that day. Now it seems that we are conditioned to worry. Is the threat level orange or purple or pink or yellow or what? Flying is now a dignity-destroying ordeal and the economy still isn’t happy.
Despite all that, I think Alan Jackson got it right when he wrote that song – “Faith, hope, and love are some good things He gave us / and the greatest is love.” Christians rise above circumstances. We live boldly even in a world of terrorism. We love even when others hate. That’s the difference that changes the world even on days like September 11th.