"America Under Attack" Monday 17th September 2001 Dear Sisters The terrorist attack upon the American citizens last Tuesday has affected many people's lives. Not only are those living in the United States affected; ~ the rest of the world has also been affected. We grieve with you, we share your pain. We also feel the sense of loss. It doesn't matter that we are miles apart, our world will never be the same again. As the media says, there are many stories to be told. Deep sorrow, heartbreaking situations. By the grace of God, I had no friends or family involved in this devastation. Even so ~ I wanted to share with you my heart on how this news has affected me. Just some thoughts from a mom who lives in country Australia. Let me start at the beginning...... THE FACTS: It was Wednesday morning, Australian time when we first heard of the terrorist attack. It had been raining, and my shoes squelched in the soggy lawn, as I took a cup of coffee over to Andre in the workshop. He had the radio on and as soon as I put the cup down on his welding bench he asked me " have you heard about the attack on America?" "What attack?" "The terrorist attack. Two planes have flown into Twin Towers, New York" It was hard to believe. Immediately, I came inside to turn on the TV. Every channel featured scenes that made us shout out in shock horror. I say 'us' as the children had joined me. The series of events unfolded before our eyes. Each of us wanted to sob at this fruitless act of violence. "It's just like a movie, mom", they told me. And that is the sad part. It did look like a movie. Not only because it was hard to comprehend that this deliberate attack and resultant devastation was real, but that each person we heard speak had an American accent ~ which is consistent with most movies we have seen ~ the actors are American and speak with American accents. From that first time viewing, I became obsessed with updated news reports. Our TV, even though hardly used, was off and on all day for the next three days. Normal, every day life stopped in our home. I would wake in the early hours of the morning, unable to sleep, lying there ~ thinking about life and death and those left behind. I would then get up and gravitate from the computer to the TV. Some mornings, I was still in my warm granny nightie at 10.30 in the morning! As long as the channels would show reports of the attack, I would watch. Housework wasn't getting done, our children would 'float' around the house, evidence of a loss of normal routine. "America Under Attack", as our media entitled the terrorist act, was given priority in our home. My obsession with it even brought Andre into the family room catching updates, during his coffee and lunch breaks. By the time the news channels had 'delivered', we would race around, doing whatever we could, in an effort to scratch the surface of what needed to be done around the home before having to go to town and do errands. And while in town, wherever we went, there were screens, newspapers and talk of this terrible terrible tragedy. It was/ is all-consuming. And so far, there are 70 Australians and 200 English folk still not found ~ along with many others. PAIN AND GRIEF: Whatever I did during the course of these first three days, scenes of grief stricken folk would play again and again in my mind's eye. Their disbelief and refusal to lose hope for their lost loved ones cut at my heart. Even though the scene of the plane crash looked like a movie, the grief stricken people made it real. The people made it personal. Names were being swapped, pictures of family and friends were being passed around. The media were interviewing, cameras were flicking as relatives sobbed. Over and over. Heavy, hurtful, dark pain. Aching hearts.... The worst thing of all was that I could do nothing. So many innocent lives lost and most of us could do nothing. So many needing help ~ physically, emotionally, spiritually and there was nothing any of us could do. Except pray for their souls. Pray that the Lord would comfort the hearts of the families and friends of those who lost their lives. ANGER: I was angry! I was angry at the cowardice act that had been performed. Angry that so many children would go to bed at night now without a kiss from mommy or daddy. Oh, dear Lord ~ the children! Angry that the surviving parent would have to not only suffer emotionally, but financially too. Angry that by this one act of violence, our world will never be the same again. And the peak of my anger came when we were shown scenes of rejoicing in Palestine, because of the success of this attack and the death of Americans (and others!) However........ GOD'S WORD: In Revelation chapter 18, we learn that the only time of rejoicing after devastation, war and death will be at the fall of 'Babylon' ~ the wicked city. In Proverbs, we learn that we are not to rejoice at another's calamity In Isaiah 3:11, we read "Woe unto the wicked! It shall be ill with him; for the reward of his hands shall be given him" The Lord sees everything and judges accordingly. "Woe unto them that seek deep to hide their counsel from the Lord, and their works are in the dark, and they say, Who seeth us? and who knoweth us?" Isaiah 29:15. The Lord doesn't take pleasure in death ~ "For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord God: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye" ~ Ezekiel 18: 32. The Lord doesn't take pleasure in the death of the wicked either "Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live; turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?" ~ Ezekiel 33: 11. In all this devastation, turmoil, chaos, grief, anger and war, there is always relief in the Lord. Our every day Oasis. "Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be CONTENT with such things as ye have; for he hath said, I will NEVER leave thee, nor forsake thee. " ~ Hebrews 13: 5. And when there has been judgement, there will be blessings: "Behold, I come quickly; blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book" ~ Revelation 22: 7 "And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be" ~ Revelation 22: 12. ENCOURAGEMENT & INSPIRATION: Oh, Dear Sisters in the Lord, you may be battling with feelings of overwhelm due to this tragedy. You may be fearful of what is to come. You may be experiencing depression because of it. Your home life may be on hold, as mine has been. And if this is so, may I encourage you to pull yourself out of the pit of despair? Get on with life! Determine to be strong. If the worst is yet to come, train yourself in the art of encouraging and helping others. Determine to be women of substance! You are women of God. Let the world see this. Set your heart on the promises of God. Don't just read about them. Let them be the reason of your very existence. Make them your own. Practice them. Protect them with every ounce of strength you have! Cry out to your Father in heaven. He hears you. Oh, how He hears you! If you are weak, He will make you strong. Be faithful. Be consistent. The Lord will show you exactly what He will have you do. Seek His will. As a sister in the Lord wrote ~ "There is always good that comes from tragedy. I think it is God's way of showing us He is in control". (Thanks, Sheryl). Once again, I offer you the advice of my mom ~ Joan Hudson ~ "Keep busy, Helen. Whenever you feel down, keep busy!" KEEPING BUSY: The Lord offered me sweet relief today. He motivated me. He guided me. He blessed me tremendously. I have purposed in my heart to renew my dedication to my home, my family. And in so doing, I pray that the Lord will use me, even in some tiny way. I closed our bedroom door, got on my knees and praised and pleaded with the Lord. I changed our bedsheets, and while I was at it, asked the Lord to bless and strengthen our marriage. I spent purposeful time, training my children in skills, etiquette and attitude. I spent time with my husband, discussing our life, our family, our home, our faith, as he cut, grinded and welded zinc coated sheets of metal. I worked on our garden, teaching the children as I went. We weeded, dug, removed, tidied and mulched. This doesn't sound a lot, but it kept me busy! And how good it is to be busy once again. A new day. A new inspiration. A new desire to keep on top of all that has to be done. Occupying until our Lord cometh........ HAVE I DONE MY BEST FOR JESUS? I'd like to leave you with these words from 'Great Hymns of the Faith' "I wonder, have I done my best for Jesus Who died upon the cruel tree To think of His great sacrifice at Calv'ry I know my Lord expects the best from me. The hours that I have wasted are so many The hours I've spent for Christ so few Because of all my lack of love for Jesus I wonder if His heart is breaking too. I wonder, have I cared enough for others Or have I let them die alone? I might have helped a wand'rer to the Saviour The seed of precious Life I might have sown. No longer will I stay within the valley I'll climb to mountain heights above The world is dying now for want of someone To tell them of the Saviour's matchless love. Ensign Edwin Young, 1895 Harry E Storrs 20th Century I sincerely hope you climb those mountains to gain the inspiration you need. But remember ~ life is in the fertile valley. Live it!! With love from Helen |