Where Were You The Day The World Stopped Turning
Today is September 11, 2014. Where were you the day the world stopped turning round? Do you remember where you were on that day when we, as a Nation, were attacked? I do.
I worked at a construction company, at the time, in the front office. We had been working on a bid for a highway letting that was due by noon that day. We hurried up and got all of our final numbers, entered them into the bid sheet, and sealed the envelop. I rushed to my car to take the bid to the appropriate building in another town by the deadline, as this was before the world of electronic submissions.
As I got comfortable in my car and turned the radio up to listen to tunes on the drive, the regular program was interrupted with chaos and confusion as the voice came over the radio telling of one building up in smoke … and shortly thereafter, the other. The twin towers were hit. It was a terrorist attack.
I remember the shock I felt as the waves crashed into me of disbelief, horror, and fear.
My foot immediately came off of the accelerator as who could possibly think to press it when you’re having trouble just breathing in that moment you are hearing that the world, as you knew it, was coming to an end. Was this, in fact, the end of the world? Was this the beginning of the end that they talk about in the bible?
I managed to force myself to breathe in as I reached for my cell phone. I called out to someone – anyone – to see if this was just a bad dream or if I caught the tail end of something horrible on the radio that wasn’t really truly happening. No, it was no nightmare. There was no waking up from this. It was really happening.
I cannot begin to imagine the feelings that swept over the entire nation as they learned of this horrible attack. So many lives were lost that day. It was something that never should have happened, yet it did. It left so many lives destroyed, so much devastation behind, and people every where asking WHY this had to happen. Families were torn apart. Lives were lost, blood was shed, and the entire nation mourned.
Even what seems like “all these years later” … we still remember. This is something we will never, ever forget as lives every where were altered and changed that day.
Will you join us in prayer for our nation? For the families that lost loved ones that day? For the precious children … the husbands, wives, brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers, friends, coworkers … all of the precious lives cut too short, gone too soon?
Pray for our nation.
Pray.
We will NEVER forget.
September 11, 2014 @ 12:03 pm
What a terrible day. Lord have mercy on them!
I was with my younger sister Katy at a hospital, waiting in the waiting room for my mother who was with my grandfather in his radiation treatment.
I remember everyone staring at the hospital televisions, people praying, people crying. I remember looking for my mom and lots of confusion, holding my little sisters hand.
I remember going home and hearing conversations between my parents with other adults, understanding how huge this was even as a kid.
I know it’s been quite a while but for those of us who remember that day, time hasn’t fully stopped us from feeling it.
I’m in Canada, too, so I can only imagine how my American neighbours must have felt and feared.
September 11, 2014 @ 2:51 pm
Stefanie, thank you so much for sharing with us. Bless your heart. I could almost see that scene in my mind as I was reading. It gave me comfort to know that people were praying right then and there.
September 11, 2014 @ 12:55 pm
Yes, we shall never forget! And I’ll never forget where I was that morning. My husband and I were in our hotel room at a ministers conference. We immediately left and returned home. We just needed to be with our family as we prayed and mourned the deaths of so many.
September 11, 2014 @ 2:50 pm
I understand, Alli. I could not get to my daughter fast enough at that point! Thank you for sharing.
September 11, 2014 @ 1:11 pm
I was actually sitting in class in high school and we had a teacher from another room run in and turn the TV on before the second plane hit. It is a day that I will never forget. I know that we are moving on and the country should, but we always need to remember and pray for those who this day affected so greatly, the loved ones who lost people. It is also our responsibility to teach our children what this day means and not let it turn into just some random day in September.
September 11, 2014 @ 2:49 pm
I agree with you 100%, Kristin. Thank you for sharing.
September 12, 2014 @ 10:19 am
Wonderful, touching post. I do remember where I was and how I felt and this day is always a reminder to me of fear and strength.
September 13, 2014 @ 8:53 am
It does feel like a lifetime has passed since 2001, but especially for those who were directly affected, I’m sure it’s dragged on. I was sitting in 5th grade and I remember knowing something was weird because they wouldn’t let us go outside for recess. Then they sent us home after lunch and I remember watching the news on TV and trying to make sense of it. At that age it’s pretty hard to wrap your mind around an evil like that.
September 17, 2014 @ 12:47 am
When I got the news about the attack i was at home with my daughter. I was 6 months pregnant with my son. My husband called and told me to turn on the news. i was so horrified i picked up my daughter and just hugged her.
September 17, 2014 @ 10:57 am
I completely understand your reaction as I could not get to my daughter fast enough to put my arms around her, too! Thank you for sharing, Katherine.