story20829.xml
Title
story20829.xml
Source
born-digital
Media Type
story
Date Entered
2006-09-12
911DA Story: Story
I remember the day as if it were yesterday. The sky was so blue, so beautiful. It was the first cool day since I had moved up north from North Carolina to attend Seminary in Bethlehem PA.
I was sitting in Old Testament class when someone ran in telling us that a plane had hit the World Trade Center. It was as if time stood still. Our class happened to have been in a Digital Learning Classroom, so we should have been able to pull the news up on the big screen TV in the classroom. When we couldn't, the class quickly moved to a room that is often used for worship.
Immediately upon entering the room, I saw the second plane hit the World Trade Center. Although I saw LIVE in the corner of the screen, it still didn't feel real. It was as if I was watching the Bruce Willie movie "Die Hard" or something. The room was perfectly still, no movement, no sound.
Here I was, 9 hours from the only home I have ever known in a room full of strangers watching the worst pain...the most devistation destruction I have ever seen...in a room full of people I didn't even know.
We sat together for hours as we saw what happened in DC and in PA. We cried together, prayed together and just sat together comforting one another. Prayer services followed...the college and seminary had several prayer services a day for weeks. They helped, but something was lost that day...I realize now that it was my innocence. I was 32 when the terriost chose to strike out against America. That day changed my life forever!
That day, this community became my family. I still mourn for those whose lives were lost. My soul aches for because of the hatred I saw that day. And yet my soul is warmed by the love I saw our nation show eachother in the midst of this pain. "When I was hungry...you gave me food, when I was thirsty...you gave me drink, when I was naked...you gave me clothing." "When I was dying....you risked your life to save me."
I was sitting in Old Testament class when someone ran in telling us that a plane had hit the World Trade Center. It was as if time stood still. Our class happened to have been in a Digital Learning Classroom, so we should have been able to pull the news up on the big screen TV in the classroom. When we couldn't, the class quickly moved to a room that is often used for worship.
Immediately upon entering the room, I saw the second plane hit the World Trade Center. Although I saw LIVE in the corner of the screen, it still didn't feel real. It was as if I was watching the Bruce Willie movie "Die Hard" or something. The room was perfectly still, no movement, no sound.
Here I was, 9 hours from the only home I have ever known in a room full of strangers watching the worst pain...the most devistation destruction I have ever seen...in a room full of people I didn't even know.
We sat together for hours as we saw what happened in DC and in PA. We cried together, prayed together and just sat together comforting one another. Prayer services followed...the college and seminary had several prayer services a day for weeks. They helped, but something was lost that day...I realize now that it was my innocence. I was 32 when the terriost chose to strike out against America. That day changed my life forever!
That day, this community became my family. I still mourn for those whose lives were lost. My soul aches for because of the hatred I saw that day. And yet my soul is warmed by the love I saw our nation show eachother in the midst of this pain. "When I was hungry...you gave me food, when I was thirsty...you gave me drink, when I was naked...you gave me clothing." "When I was dying....you risked your life to save me."
Collection
Citation
“story20829.xml,” September 11 Digital Archive, accessed January 28, 2025, https://911digitalarchive.org/items/show/13176.