September 11

How well I still remember that awful day when civilian passenger airliners were used so violently in an attempt to crush the American spirit. I'm still so shocked when I see footage of the twin towers falling, and the sense of helplessness about all the lives ended or changed in those few short hours of attacks.

The Pentagon in Washington DC is dedicating a significant, touching memorial in tribute to the people who died on Flight 77 and in the building itself as the plane crashed into it. I hope to visit it some day; you can check it out on the dedication website: Pentagon Memorial dedication.

Today, I don't want to dwell too much on the loss of life that day. Tragedies occur every day around the world; even today, Hurricane Ike has left behind lives lost in the Caribbean -- people who survived the devastating rampage of Hurricane Gustav a couple of weeks before. We are all touched by tragedy, this we know.

And we are all touched by people of courage and sacrifice. Firefighters ... law enforcement officers ... military personnel ... flight crews ... window washers on skyscrapers ... zookeepers ... missionaries ... social workers ... Personally, I think it takes courage to stand in front of a classroom full of students these days -- it's an extraordinary responsibility teachers bear.

This morning, however, I can't help but think about a handful of people who -- 7 years ago -- had the strength to overcome the highjackers and redirect the doomed flight so that it crashed into an empty field. So that those misguided zealots could not complete their mission of destruction. We've heard their names many times: Tom Burnett, Todd Beamer, Jeremy Glick, Mark Bingham ... and others. What they did represents so well the triumph of the human spirit over diversity. The 44 passengers and crew of Flight 93 who died there in Pennsylvania sacrificed all so that others could live. They are all on my mind and heart today for some reason, and I lift prayers for their families who continue the "going on anyhow," every day.

Hope you have a very blessed day,

Melanie

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