In the Face of Death: 9/11 Remembrance

We can all remember where we were when we first heard.

I had gotten up late for work and decided to log on to check my fantasy football score based on the results from Monday Night Football the night before.

A plane had hit the World Trade Center said the headline that accompanied a picture showing black smoke pouring out of the top third of the building. Immediately the thought that a small airplane had accidently flown into the Trade Center entered my mind. I gave it no further thought, bypassing the article, and moving onto my "important" stuff - fantasy football.

On the way to work, the radio reported that the second tower had been hit by another plane. In that moment the realization swept over me. The odds are far too great that two small planes would accidently hit these buildings. This wasn't just some tragic accident. This was an intentional act of great evil.

Of course, the horror became even worse as the towers collapsed. I suppose the lucky victims were the ones who were killed instantly in the fireballs that engulfed them. They didn't have to deal with being trapped and knowing they were going to die. Or to make a decision that it was better to jump to your death than to burn to death.

Of course, they also didn't have time to say goodbye to their loved ones. I'm not sure how I would fair if placed in that situation. One minute you are going about your daily tasks. The next, to know you are moments from death.

From the calls for which we have records, it appears that the moment brought these unfortunate souls clarity about what is truly important. It's not fantasy football. It's relationships. It's about those whom we love.

In the midst of the most evil hatred imaginable, hatred that was being done to their very person, these individuals taught us a lesson in what's important.

In the face of death, they showed us what life is about.