Do You Remember...

where you were 7 years ago?



I do...

~~~

I was sitting in my office at the Company I was working for at the time. There was an important conference call in an hour and I needed to prepare. The radio was on, providing the usual background noise that I need to keep focused.

During the usual every half-hour news break, the DJ casually mentioned some reports of a plane hitting one of the Twin Towers. The first thought that ran through my mind was that silly French daredevil that had be in the news for base jumping off of some other skyscraper as well as trying to fly his ultralight around the torch of the Statue of Liberty and getting caught.

I remember getting up from my desk and talking with my boss about it. Saying that that "idiot" probably got himself killed, but hopefully he didn't hurt anyone else.

When the news again reported that another plane hit the other tower...my blood turned cold and I knew that we were under attack. All other thoughts left my mind and I went into the Detailing Room where all of my co-workers were huddled around the TV. The Network News was on and the first chaotic pictures from NYC were flashing by.

It was then that I remembered that both my sisters, my brother-in-law, and my newborn nephew were in the Niagara Falls area of New York...due to fly back that morning. Sheer panic gripped me and I made frantic calls to my parents trying to find out what their flight information was....

My family was blessed that day. They all arrived home safely almost a week later. My husband, who was a Road Warrior at the time, was on one of his rare visits to his office.

We both left work and spent the rest of the day and the next few days afterwards walking around in a daze...trying to make sense of everything that happened. It was strange to not see planes in the air, especially since we live close to several major airports. When the planes did get back up into the air, I would find myself stopping to watch...making sure that they weren't going to crash into me...

Hard to believe it has been almost 7 years.



~~~

'MEET ME IN THE STAIRWELL'

You say you will never forget where you were when
you heard the news On September 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 in 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 , Virginia , California , Michigan , Afghanistan ..
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 not all know Me. Some met Me
for the first time on the 86th floor.

Some sought Me with their last breath.
Some couldn't hear Me calling to them through 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?

Sept. 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.