Go Now To Remember

This morning’s prayer and meditation for Sally’s healing comes from www.d365.org. The site is sponsored by: The Episcopal Church, the Presbyterian Church USA, and the Corporate Baptist Fellowship.

Reflections on 9/11: God’s Presence and Healing

Pause

Ten years can seem like such a long time. It can also seem to pass very, very quickly.

So we do well to take the passing of time into account, to consider our every day, and to think of what the times mean, especially in light of our faith.

A full decade after the events that so changed our lives - both personally and in communities small and large - take a few moments of time to reflect on days gone by, the day at hand, and the days yet to come.

Listen

At that place he came to a cave, and spent the night there. Then the word of the Lord came to him, saying, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” He said, “Go out and stand on the mountain before the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.” Now there was a great wind, so strong that it was splitting mountains and breaking rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of sheer silence. When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. Then there came a voice to him that said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 1 Kings 19:9,11-13a

Think

“It’s just a cloud. It’s a cloud.” These are the words that I repeated aloud ten years ago as I looked south toward the Pentagon a few miles away. I didn’t realize I was speaking until a friend gently said to me “Clouds don’t rise.” That’s when it really sunk in that the tragedy of 9/11 had happened; when I could see the smoke. Then there was silence, only broken by newscasters and concerned calls. Most of the people around me stopped talking, numb and afraid.

Elijah was on a mountain top waiting for God. There was a wind, an earthquake, a fire, all of which were frightening. Elijah knew, though, that God wasn’t in them. Then came the whisper breaking the silence in the aftermath. God was in that whisper.

There are times in our lives when events beyond our control create fear. God is with us in those moments, when the silence is deafening and we can’t see past our fear. God has a fearless love for us that braves the scary moments.

Pray

Fearless God, be with me when events overwhelm. Help me to listen with my sometimes broken heart for your words of love. I pray for those who live in fear because of war, famine, storms, and devastation, that they may feel your presence. Give me strength to face my fears, and help me be the presence of Christ for others as they face theirs. Amen.

Go

Go now to remember.

Remember that we serve the God of healing.

Remember that we serve the God of peace.

Go now to claim your healing,

And to walk in the way of peace.

I See America by Ken Medema

If you feel led to do so, please post a note of encouragement in the comment section below, or send your note by email to PrayersForSally@gmail.com