September 11, 2010

Nine years ago today, I was on a Metra train from Aurora to Chicago. On my way to a meeting. A lady above me got a cell phone call - "What, a plane has just crashed into the World Trade Center?" I continued to listen to the details of the situation thus far though her cell phone conversation. Soon, cell phones were ringing all around me. Wondering what was happening and what the significance of the event was, I continued on my journey, through the train terminal, to the bus, to my destination, somewhere near the federal building.

I was representing UIC campus ministry at a meeting, I am not even sure what we talked about at the meeting. It did not seem to matter to any of us. the leader of the meeting pulled out a tv so that we could watch the events on "Good Morning America". somewhere in the middle of the meeting we watched in horror as the first tower fell, and then the second. We prayed, and the meeting seemed to fal apart after that. Not a bad thing, as I went into the lobby, I was informed that the building was closing.

A plan had crashed into the Pentagon, there was another plane that could not be accounted for. Not only were we close to the federal building, but also to the Sears Tower. the state police were blocking off the entire loop. Anyone in the loop was encouraged to leave now and return home.

For the amoung amount of concern amongst us, the evacuation went pretty well. People were told to go home and that was what we did. When I arrived at the train station, trains were not leaving on schedule. as soon as they were filled, they took off. i caught one of those trains back to Aurora.

I was in a daze as I drove home. What did this mean? Does this mean that life as we know it was changing?

somewhere in the chaos of the morning, we found that the other plane had landed in a field in Pennsylvania.

Going home I was worried about my son. He was in middle school. I called to see what was going on with the students, were they safe? did they need to go home? Was he scared of the events of the day? The school assured me the the students were fine and that school would continue as normal.

Once I got home, I undressed and laid on the couch. Something told me that life as I knew it was gone, things had changed the world had changed. i sat on the couch, under teh covers and watched on television as the events of the day unfolded before me.

I learned of the thousands of people who were killed, the thousands of people who were present to help, the relations of America and the Arab world, the desertion and emptiness of downtown.

The next day at Agape House at University of Illinois at Chicago, we tried as best we could to process the vents of the day and what that meant for us as people of faith. (Whatever was happening at that meeting - I never gave it a second thought).

Nine years later still feeling the effects of that day - the anomisity with the Arab world, the inability to understand muslims, the economic downfall, the wondering will life ever return to "normal" - or has the worlds destiny forever been altered?

In Search of a Story

Years ago, while working at University Campus Ministry, the director, Jack came to me to share a story. He was preparing for his sermon on sunday, and had checked out a book of stories. This one was of a little girl, who wanted balloons for her birthday. They made her so happy, that her parents did not have the heart to take them away from her.
I have been looking for that story for over 15 years now, and have not been able to find it. Weeks later I asked Jack about the story - and he did not remember what I was talking about.
The real story was that I needed to hear that story. Life was horrible for me, I was very unhappy and tense. As Jack came up to my desk to talk, I didnt want to be bothered with him. I thought it was so lame that he needed to share this corny story with me. I could not share in hs joy of telling the story. It seems that he had been looking for the story for a while, and was overjoyed to have finally found it. Or maybe he just knew that I needed to hear a story about joy.
The real story of that day is the care that he showed me at a time when I was not able to return the sentiment. I really did feel better after that time with him. It really was a cute story.
As a story preacher, I always love a good story. I have been looking for that story for years, i have sometimes come close, but it wasnt quite that story. But I will carry the joy of someone who loves me in my heart forever.