Every year, on the anniversary of the tragedies of September 11th, I make my students watch a video that talks about the events of that horrible day. I also talk to them about always remembering the moments in time when others have suffered and, for this day, when the world changed forever. My students were not even born when the World Trade Center was attacked. They have heard the stories but I always worry that this event will slowly become another part of our history. Is it because it did not affect us and we were not harmed? I explain to them that, although they were not yet born, the events of 9/11 had a tremendous impact on their lives. Life changed drastically on that day and the world will be forever different. I am not talking about simple things like getting through an airport quickly or having to fill out government paperwork. I am talking about the fact that we continue to be at war against terrorists, one man does not trust another just because of his nationality, or the fact that there is tremendous evil in our world. After my students watch the video I am always pleased with the respect and concern they show. They know more about the events than I give them credit for knowing and they actually make some very smart comments. I always talk to them about placing themselves in the position of the family members of the victims of 9/11. I think we see the people and the world in a different way when we do that. Suddenly we have compassion for their loss, and although we may not totally understand, there is a part of us that feels their grief.
As I left for work early this morning, I was reminded of where I was on the morning of September 11, 2001. I had told my wife and three year old daughter goodbye for the day and had dropped my seven year old son off at his school. While driving to work, I heard the news reports as they began. First, the reporters did not understand the magnitude of what had happened and were reporting it as an accident. Soon, their tone of voice changed drastically. I remember I stopped at a gas station and went inside to watch on a TV with several other men and women. I hurried to my school and sat all day with students as we watched the events of the morning. I remember thinking about how drastically the world had changed for my children. I was also thankful that our lives had not changed as drastically as the over 3,000 people who lost their lives and the hundreds of thousands who lost friends and family.
I think our Heavenly Father expects us to feel compassion towards people whether they are a stranger or our closest friend. I know today is 18 years since the horrible tragedy that our country faced on September 11th of 2001 but don’t ever forget what people endured on that day. Also never forget that although evil is in this world and is at work every day, our God is stronger. He also makes us strong to battle the evil that may face us.
Chad
