My fingers continuously paused on the keyboard as I thought through what to share in this week’s editorial. It had to focus on 9/11, but what could I really say that hasn’t been said before?
Each year’s anniversary takes us back to that horrific day, but there’s something more dramatic marking the 25th anniversary. Our team worked hard to provide an appropriate tribute.
Shock and numbness
Like you, I remember where I was and what I was doing when I learned of the news. I recall the shock and numbness as well as not wanting to turn off the TV for fear of missing some new detail.
After several hours of processing what was happening, our team jumped into media coverage mode and tossed out whatever plan we had in place for the next edition of the newspaper. Back then, we only had one newspaper — The Alabama Baptist. (Today, we have three newspapers.)
We pulled together coverage to help readers move forward following the attacks. We interviewed a variety of sources for our own articles and curated articles from several news services closer to the scene.
Photos and stories
We were grateful for the coverage by the Baptist Press team who graciously shared their photos and stories with all of us publishing state Baptist newspapers.
Somehow working to help our readers, while also packaging the historical archive that late September 2001 edition of the paper would become, settled our spirit and provided the purpose we needed as individuals. It also gave us a platform to share hope and a path forward.
About seven months later as I sat in a high-rise windowsill looking down on the hole in the ground where the Twin Towers once stood, the somberness hung heavy in the air. Those of us on the team traveling to New York City to minister to first responders closest to the devastation felt it before we saw it, and words were few.
Attempting to describe the experience around Ground Zero, even all those months later, proved difficult.
I’m guessing these are similar feelings to those of Ukrainians as they watch their country endure attack after attack and to Christians in countries like Nigeria where large numbers of abductions, acts of torture and killings are ongoing.
Recalling how we felt on 9/11 helps me empathize with those in other parts of the world suffering their own horrific events.
Show compassion
It reminds me to pray for them, show compassion, advocate for solutions and share God’s love and hope. It keeps me from ignoring the pain of others by convincing myself their situations don’t directly affect me, so I don’t need to be bothered with them.
Christ died for all people. Every human being was created in God’s image. He values each of us, and I’m so grateful I can’t mess that up.
Remembering 9/11 keeps me humble and enhances my appreciation for first responders. It also shows how neighbors will help neighbors in times of true devastation. They aren’t thinking about their differences in those moments, only how they can best assist.
Stillness of the moments
Sitting in the stillness of the moments following 9/11 surfaced something I had never thought about prior to that Tuesday morning — is it possible God removes His hand of protection from time to time to help us find our compassion and kindness again?
I’m not saying He causes the devastation, but I do wonder if He allows some situations to play out when we’ve allowed the worst of ourselves to overtake the Light He so generously fills within us.
EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by Jennifer Davis Rash, president and editor-in-chief of TAB Media Group. This editorial appears in the September 10 edition of The Baptist Paper. Click here to subscribe.
