Patriot Day

I usually save my emotional, political and/or religious posts for my personal blog, saving this one for fun and humor. However, today is a special day. A day of remembrance, thankfulness, reflection and prayer.


9-11. As many Americans do, every year on this day I think of the horror that crept into my heart when I heard the news. My mother woke me up to tell me what happened. The sadness in her eyes as she saw me break down, knowing that this was war. My uncle Eric was in the Air Force, My boyfriend, a cadet, was about to be commissioned as an officer in the US Army. She lived through Vietnam and lost her first love there and hoped it wouldn't happen to me as well.

Driving to the post office today, I remembered why I love living in small-ish-town America - American flags up and down the street on different buildings. Homes, Businesses, Churches. Indeed, God Blesses America.

I heard this on the way to work this morning and it touched my heart and brought a peace over me. It was a poem written by Stacey Randall, voiced by Bob Holiday over "Silent Night". ( click here to hear it )

Met in the Stairwell

You say you will never forget where you were when you heard the news, Sept. 11, 2001. Neither will I.

I was on the 110th floor in a smoke filled room with a man who called his wife to say "Good-bye." I held his fingers steady as he dialed. I gave him the peace to say, "Honey, I am not going to make it, but it is OK...I am ready to go."

I was with his wife when he called as she fed breakfast to their children. I held her up as she tried to understand his words and as she realized he wasn't coming home that night.

I was in the stairwell of the 23rd floor when a woman cried out to me for help. "I have been knocking on the door of your heart for 50 years!" I said. "Of course I will show you the way home -- only believe on Me now."
I was at the base of the building with the Priest ministering to the injured and devastated souls. I took him home to tend to his Flock in Heaven. He heard my voice and answered.

I was on all four of those planes, in every seat, with every prayer. I was with the crew as they were overtaken. I was in the very hearts of the believers there. Comforting and assuring them that their Faith has saved them.

I was in Texas, Kansas, London. I was standing next to you when you heard the terrible news. Did you sense Me? I want you to know that I saw every face. I knew every name-though they did NOT all know Me. Some met me for the first time on the 100th floor. Some sought me out in their last breath. Some couldn't hear me calling to them throughout the smoke and flames, "Come to Me...this way...take my hand." Some chose, for the final time, to ignore Me. But, I was there.

I did not place you in the Tower that day--you may not know why, But I DO. However, if you were there in that explosive moment in time, would you have reached for Me? September 11, 2001, was not the end of the journey for you. But someday your journey will end. And I will be there for you as well. Seek Me now while I may be found. Then, at any moment, you know you are "ready to go." I will be in the stairwell of your final moments.

Remember. I love you.

God

Copyright©2002 Stacey Randall

Amen.