It’s now 20 years later.  Do you still remember what happened on September 11, 2001?  Have you forgotten what you vowed never to forget?

Where were you when the world stopped turning?

I was driving down the road delivering a bid for my employer when the news came over the radio.  It was as if everything started moving in slow motion as I heard the announcement.  I called my fiancé to see if he heard anything because maybe, just maybe the voice on the radio was mistaken.  Much to my horror, I listened as the second tower was struck and up in flames.

It WAS the day the world stopped turning due to violence, terrorism, and an attack on the United States of America!

Twenty years later, we might have flashbacks of that day, or we might have to educate the young ones of the significance of this day.  Maybe they learned about it in history class, or maybe they saw the look on their parent’s or grandparent’s faces as they re-lived the moment.

Now 20 years later, we’re dealing with emotions after President Biden pulled out of Afghanistan leaving a lot of our military equipment behind.  We fear there will be another attack on the United States, some even fearing it would be today with the nation in mourning once again.  Others feel it would be too predictable, though.

One thing is for sure, we all need prayer.  The families and friends are still mourning the loss of their loved ones from the attack on this day, and although it has been 20 years, the hurt is no less felt than the day it all happened.  At this time in 2001, I was dealing with the loss of my sister in July, only to have this act of terrorism occur two months and two days later.  What a devastating time for our family and for our nation. We felt some comfort from those that rallied around us and others in their state of mourning, for our personal loss and the loss that shook the United States of America.  One thing these tragedies had in common is they brought out the compassionate and caring nature of others.   These tragedies allowed for more love to be shown, and this entire world needs more love!

Today, the world is more divided than ever.  With controversy on both sides regarding the vaccines – whether to take it for the preventative nature it is intended for or whether it’s a conspiracy from the government – we are bickering and fighting each other over our individual beliefs.  Race is also still a hot topic – with racism on both sides.

What if we brought back the love from 20 years ago?  The compassion that was felt back then needs to be resurrected today.  There needs to be more caring individuals and less fighting amongst each other.  United we stand … divided we fall!  Don’t we remember that, too?!

As the nation remembers, let us be the change we wish to see in the world …