September 11, 2001
'The best thing we can do when the world is falling apart is make new Christians.'
I was in a church staff meeting on a Tuesday morning when the organist burst into the room saying things about planes and buildings and explosions. I literally could not make sense of what he was saying. I made him say it again twice.
We turned on a radio in the room and heard reporters screaming.
I fell to my knees. I had left New York City only three weeks earlier to move back to North Carolina.
I went home so I could cry in private, and also try to call everyone I knew with a New York number. No calls were going through. I knew that people I loved were dead - I just didn’t know who.
I put on my collar and went back to church.
Church - where everyone was gathering. Already people streaming in, traumatized, dazed, hoping to find something to hold onto in this place.
We started singing. A Mighty Fortress is our God. My Country ‘tis of Thee.
By Divine coincidence, that day - September 11th - was the day of our annual Bishop’s visitation. We were expecting Bp. Michael Curry - then the Bishop of North Carolina - to baptize and confirm new members.
The service was not rescheduled. The church was already full when the evening start time had come. People were there for the service, and people were streaming in from the street.
I still hadn’t heard from any of my friends.
It was my job to read the Gospel during the service, already chosen for the occasion and day. Matthew 5 - the Beatitudes.
’Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will comforted.’
For the first time in my ministry, I didn’t think I could continue. Tears streamed down my face, I was afraid I would collapse into sobs.
’Blessed are those who revile and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.’
Bishop Curry gave the sermon. I will never forget it. In fact, ten years later, when I was working as a member of his staff, he returned to this church to remember that night. He asked me what I remembered of the sermon, and I told him these words were burned on my heart:
’The best thing we can do when the world is falling apart is to make new Christians.’
The best thing we can do when everything turns to darkness is to believe in light.
It was easily the worst day of my life. It was the worst day, period.
For weeks I would wake up thinking, ‘I’ve had the most terrible dream...’
I went back to New York for weeks afterwards, to mourn those lost, to be with those still traumatized, to remember. To never forget.
But on that horrible day, I felt the comfort of the one thing we know is true as Christians: nothing will separate us from the love of God.
And church is where I could hold onto hope in the midst of the most horrible pain.
Love is stronger than death. Love is stronger than death. Love is stronger than death.
Amen, amen, amen. Was there in NYC, teaching. One student might have been in the Towers if she were not in my class at 8am. I remember the rumors, the fear, the evacuation trains and more. And the pictures put up all over of victims. Kyrie eleison.