Remembering

I wish I had some wonderfully poetic and profound words today. I do not.

Ten years ago, I was watching the news while getting ready for work at KOIN News in Portland. I had to be downtown early, so I was up before dawn. Reporters said an airplane had hit one of the Twin Towers. I was watching live when the second tower was hit.

I remember running into the bedroom and waking Brad, saying that a plane had crashed into the building... and they think it was on purpose.

I rode the 96 bus downtown and remember the strange quiet onboard. No one really knew yet what was happening. I worked nearly non-stop for about a week, covering the biggest news story in my life.

Ten years later, I look at my students and realize that this world is all they really know... and it breaks my heart. War, terrorism fears, intolerance, economic crisis, distrust.

As I mourn, my heart yearns for peace, understanding, love.

President Obama this morning read Psalm 46. What a beautiful passage:

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Therefore, we will not fear, even though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea.

Though its waters roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with its swelling,
there’s a river whose streams shall make glad the City of God, the holy place of the Tabernacle
of the Most High.

God is in the midst of her. She shall not be moved.
God shall help her just at the break of dawn.

The nations raged, the kingdoms were moved.
He uttered his voice. The earth melted.

The Lord of Hosts is with us. The God of Jacob is our refuge.
Come behold the works of the Lord who has made desolations in the Earth.

He makes wars cease to the ends of the Earth.
He breaks the bough and cuts the spear in two.
He burns the chariot in fire.

Be still and know that I am God.
I will be exalted among the nations.
I will be exalted in the Earths.
The Lord of Hosts is with us.
The God of Jacob is our refuge.