Categories
Heaven Life

I Was There

Twin TowersFeatured song: Met In The Stairwell, written by Stacey Randall, read by Bob Holiday, from late 2001.

Eight years ago today, our world was changed profoundly. By the actions of some very lost men with a very great hatred, many lives were taken in a tragedy that affects us still today.

As an adult, I had not previously experienced a disaster that affected me in a way that caused me to simply stop and stare at the news on the television, not believing what I was seeing, praying that somehow it was not as bad as it appeared.

I did not personally lose anybody that I knew in the disastrous plane crashes on the World Trade Center towers in New York, or on the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., on September 11, 2001. I have no personal connection with either city. I am a midwestern born and raised person, and frankly I have no great love for large cities.

And yet this wanton destruction, this attack on this land that I love, struck me with the same intensity as it did to many others in our country, even in the world, on that day. It was such a feeling of helplessness, of sadness, of horror for the victims (both in the jets that crashed, as well as for those in the buildings those jets struck) and for their families.

In the months following 9/11, one story written about the tragedy from the point of view of Jesus began to circulate the Internet. It first was played on radio station KFSH 95.9 FM in Los Angeles, California in November 2001, and continued to get airplay spreading throughout the nation both during and after the Christmas season that year. The words were written by Stacey Randall, it was read by Bob Holiday of KFSH, and it was recorded with Mannheim Steamroller‘s Silent Night playing in the background. Titled Met In The Stairwell, but also known as I Was There (9/11), I found it to be an intense look at that snapshot in time, and a reminder that most of us do not know whether or not today will be our last day on earth.

I’ve written posts in the past on this web site about the brevity of life, and the need to know now where you stand with Jesus Christ. In the 2 Corinthians 6:2 the Bible says, “Behold, now is the accepted hour, behold now is the day of salvation.” I am not promised tomorrow. I am that Jesus will be with me in anything that comes my way today, even if that happens to be the end of my time here on earth.

If you do not know where you stand with God now, don’t take this song and lyrics to be something only intended to draw a tear from your eye. Take it as a promise of the presence of Jesus in your life, knocking at your door, waiting permission to enter. And do not delay, thinking that you will have time “tomorrow”. Take that step today.

You say you’ll never forget where you were
when you heard the news on September 11th, 2001.

Neither will I.

I was on the 110th floor in a smoke filled room
with a man who called his wife to say goodbye.

I held his fingers steady as he dialed.

I gave him the peace to say,
“Honey, I am not going to make it,
but it’s okay…I’m ready to go.”

I was with his wife when he called
as she fed breakfast to their children.

I held her up as she tried to understand his words,
and as she realized he wasn’t coming home that night.

I was in the stairwell of the 23rd floor
when a women cried out to Me for help.
“I’ve been knocking on the door of your heart for 50 years!”
I said, “Of course I will show you the way home –
only believe in Me now.”

I was at the base of the building when the Priest
ministered to the injured and devastated souls.
I took him home to tend his flock in Heaven.
He heard my voice and answered.

I was on all four of those planes, in every seat, with every prayer.
I was with the crew as they were overtaken.
I was in the very hearts of the believers there,
comforting and assuring them that their faith has saved them.

I was in Texas, Kansas, London.
I was standing next to you when you heard the terrible news.
Did you sense Me?

I want you to know that I saw every face.
I knew every name – though not all know Me.

Some met Me for the first time on the 86th floor.

Some sought Me with their last breath.

Some couldn’t hear Me calling to them through the smoke and flames,
“Come to Me…this way…take My hand.”

Some chose, for the final time, to ignore Me.

But, I was there.

I did not place you in the tower that day.
You may not know why, but I do.
However, if you were there in that explosive moment in time,
would you have reached for Me?

September 11th, 2001 was not the end of the journey for you.
But someday your journey will end,
and I’ll be there for you as well.
Seek Me now while I may be found.
Then, at any moment, you know you’re “ready to go.”

I will be in the stairwell of your final moments.

Remember…I love you.

Categories
Heaven Life

Trouble and Overcoming

Featured song: Breakfast Table, by Chris Rice, from his 2005 album, Amusing.

I attended a funeral yesterday for a uncle that I’ve not had much opportunity to see in the past few years. He had lived a long life, but as with everyone, the body finally wore out and he had to leave us. In the service held for him, I was again reminded that living in this world was never promised to be problem free. Jesus specifically told us about this, in John 16:33. I like the way the Message Bible has put it:

I’ve told you all this so that trusting me, you will be unshakable and assured, deeply at peace. In this godless world you will continue to experience difficulties. But take heart! I’ve conquered the world.

The word “difficulties” here is translated as “tribulation” or “trouble” in other versions. In the Amplified Bible, it is clarified to mean “tribulation and trials and distress and frustration”. That pretty much covers all of the things that might come my way!

This might refer to the problems I had getting through my day at work today, or dealing with conflicts within my family, or the test I have to take in that class that I am struggling with. Or it might be dealing with the loss of a family member to death. In all of those situations, Jesus says that He’s been there already, and He has already won. Referring again to the Amplified Bible, Jesus says, “I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.”

Not only has Jesus gone ahead of me and taken captive all of these problems and losses I will face, but He has given me comfort in the situation. 

I have posted a number of songs in the past that dealt with heaven, and the joy I anticipate with being there someday. Here is another one, which gives me comfort as I await my time to join my friends and family in heaven, when God sees fit to end my time here. It is sung as by a husband to the wife he has lost, but can apply to anyone we love who has gone one before us.

Was it a million miles to heaven
Too far to hear my lonely song
Or is it just my imagination
I hear you humming along
I only hold you in my dreams now
I wake up with cold and empty arms
Lord help me get through
This long night without you
And soon as the morning comes
Soon as the morning comes

Save me a seat at the breakfast table
Save me a dance around the Milky Way
And save me a thousand years
To whisper in your ears
All I’ve wanted to say
Save me a smile and an angel’s feather
Save me a walk down the streets of gold
And baby, we’ll change our minds just like old times
And maybe we’ll just fly away
Or maybe we’ll stay

My lucky doll, you’re in heaven before me
You were my taste of heaven here
Remember we loved to talk about it,
We couldn’t wait to get there
So you go on and find your way around now
But remember I’m here missing you
Do me a favor and say hey to Jesus
And tell Him I’m missing Him too
Tell Him I’m missing Him too

Then save me a seat at the breakfast table
Save me a dance around the Milky Way
And save me a thousand years
To whisper in your ears
All I’ve wanted to say
Save me a smile and an angel’s feather
Save me a walk down the streets of gold
And baby, we’ll change our minds just like old times
And maybe we’ll just fly away…

Save me a seat at the breakfast table
Save me a dance around the Milky Way
And save me a thousand years
To whisper in your ears
All I’ve wanted to say
Save me a smile and an angel’s feather
Save me a walk down the streets of gold
And baby, we’ll change our minds just like old times
And maybe we’ll just fly away…

Oh, maybe we’ll fly away, we’ll fly away

‘Cause I miss you, I miss you, I miss you, I miss you
Baby let’s fly away
We’ll fly, we’ll fly, we’ll fly,
And we’ll have forever
We’ll have forever and ever

I can’t wait to see you
I can’t wait to hold you
I can’t wait to see you
I can’t wait to hold you again

You were my taste of heaven
We’ll have forever
I can’t wait to see you
I can’t wait to hold you

Amusing, 1985, Chris Rice