Toward Danger on Purpose

     Sunday marks the 10th anniversary of a day many Americans remember vividly.  I know exactly where I was when I heard the news of the first tower being hit.  I was glued to my TV all day long, wondering what would possess a person to perpetrate the murder of more than 3,000 people.  I visited ground zero some months after the attack and was stunned once more by the significance of the event.  In a matter of a hours, and over the course of the next days, thousands of people were thrown into their worst nightmare as they received news confirming their worst fears; their loved one had died on 9/11.  On 9/10, I had received a phone call that told me about a personal tragedy in someone's life and it occurred to me in the next couple of days after that, that 9/11 was a national tragedy because of 3,000 personal tragedies happening all at once.  We shared so many mixed emotions and struggled with our own response and reaction to the experience of terrorist actions on American soil.

     Much has been said about the first responders on 9/11.  Movies have been produced and documentaries have been aired describing the heroism of those who ran into the towers while everyone else was running to safety.  These brave heroes purposely headed toward danger for the sake of others.  I will recognize those who serve in that kind of capacity this Sunday in our worship celebration.  It doesn't seem like much, but it is an attempt to acknowledge their sacrifice and thank them for their courageous willingness to be in harm's way for the sake of others.  

     This morning, while I was still mulling all of this over and reading my Bible, I came to John 18 and the passage where Jesus was arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane just hours before he was murdered by people who thought they were doing the world (and their religion) a favor.  When Peter reacted boldly, albeit foolishly to draw his sword and defend Jesus; our Lord compassionately healed the man Peter wounded and told him to put up his sword.  His reasoning was "shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given me?"  Jesus was a responder.  He went purposely toward danger, knowing ahead of time it would mean his death.  He gave his life so others could live.

     Interestingly; there are few that seem to be aware of the terror that awaits them.  Jesus ran in, so to speak, when most people were oblivious to their danger.  The same is still true.  God asks that I be a rescue worker of sorts; helping people to escape the danger they face.  In many cases, they are unaware of their perilous state, but that doesn't change my mission.

     I want to mirror the kind of courage that those brave heroes showed us 10 years ago (and continue to do in  many "smaller" instances every day) as they go toward danger for the sake of others.

     Do you have any lessons you have drawn from your experience of 9/11?  How are you seeking to learn from our shared experience on that fateful day?