story1424.xml
Title
story1424.xml
Source
born-digital
Media Type
story
Date Entered
2002-08-23
911DA Story: Story
The morning of September 11th, I was sitting in Chapel at Western Theological Seminary, totally oblivious to the terror unfolding in New York City. The whole Seminary shared a sense of corporate grief as we learned of the tragedy during our coffee time.
It was evident that we were joined in our shock by others around the city, as I walked to lunch in Holland. Every where I looked, groups were clustered all over Hope?s campus and on street corners downtown, sharing their pain and outrage.
Every table at "The Good Earth" was abuzz with news of the event. Every table but one. . . You see, September 11th was also the first day of preschool for Anna.
Between mouthfuls of cream cheese bagel, and accented by peels of gleeful giggles, she shared with her daddy the wonder of her morning. As he listened attentively, I was overcome by the significance of the gift of love this father was giving his daughter on this ?day of days.?
That he could leave his grown-up priorities and worries behind, and be wholly present to his daughter in that moment, was nothing short of moving. And in that moment I knew I was seeing Christ-like love ? sincere and self-sacrificing.
It was evident that we were joined in our shock by others around the city, as I walked to lunch in Holland. Every where I looked, groups were clustered all over Hope?s campus and on street corners downtown, sharing their pain and outrage.
Every table at "The Good Earth" was abuzz with news of the event. Every table but one. . . You see, September 11th was also the first day of preschool for Anna.
Between mouthfuls of cream cheese bagel, and accented by peels of gleeful giggles, she shared with her daddy the wonder of her morning. As he listened attentively, I was overcome by the significance of the gift of love this father was giving his daughter on this ?day of days.?
That he could leave his grown-up priorities and worries behind, and be wholly present to his daughter in that moment, was nothing short of moving. And in that moment I knew I was seeing Christ-like love ? sincere and self-sacrificing.
Collection
Citation
“story1424.xml,” September 11 Digital Archive, accessed January 11, 2025, https://911digitalarchive.org/items/show/17985.