12 years ago today terrorists launched multiple attacks on the United States, taking the lives of thousands of innocent Americans.
I remember sitting in my second grade classroom at Siloam Christian School when the news was broken.
At the time I did not understand the totality of what had just happened, but I remember feeling sad.
Today I wake up in my dorm room, now a Sophomore in college and think about the state of America and what today brings.
For many today is a day of mourning, because of the people lost in this tragic event. For others it is a day of remembrance, thinking and praying for the people affected.
Regardless of how people treat today, there is one underlying theme. The events that transpired on September 11, 2001bring the people in this country closer together.
The Fourth of July,the Olympics and tragedies such as the Boston Bombing are events that Americans use to come closer together as a country
And the fact that we take these select days to unite as Americans is absolutely terrible.
Yes, that is right, terrible.
Not terrible in the sense that it brings people together, because days such as 9/11 that bring people closer together are excellent.
But why should we only take certain days to feel united as Americans???
That is an approach that should be taken every day.
Why should it take a travesty such a bombing or a shooting to make me feel like I have something in common with the person next to me?
Here is a scene from a Boston Bruins hockey game days after the bombing, uniting as a city and a nation singing the National Anthem with no music
That video gives me goosebumps.
It is what we should aim to make every day look like.
Take a moment to talk to the person sitting next to you. Yes that's right, get off the iPhone and actually take time to talk to people and invest in their lives.
Because there is a good chance you have something in common, you are both American, which is a great start.
This here directly correlates to how I and other believers live their lives as Christians.
The tragedy (almost)
The tragedy occurred a few thousand years ago when Jesus was hung on a cross, mocked and tortured Jack Bauer style.
Nails were driven through his hands and feet. Thorns were lodged into his head. He was stabbed, beaten and had alcohol poured on his wounds.
And he did it all for those who believe and trust in Him, to take away their sin
Is that not great? It is an incredible action of sacrifice and love. Three days later he rose again, but in and of itself, for the people on that day it was a tragic event.
Christians have certain days that they use to unite and become closer together, just as Americans do.
Christmas, Easter and just Sundays in general are days Christians use to celebrate who Christ is and what he did.
But as Christians God calls us to celebrate Him and be disciples of Him every single day.
Mark 16:15 reads, "And He said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature."
Meanwhile, Christians (I included), walk around caught up in the worries and wants of life, not thinking to even speak to the person sitting next to me.
They may be a Christian, they may not, but God puts people around us and gives us opportunities to share his love with those who do not know it and to make Christian brothers.
I hope this article makes you think a little, and is a bit convicting.
I know it was for me.
So in a me-first world I want to encourage everyone to take advantage of the situations God has given us and to become closer to the people around us.
God Bless America
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