One Day Changes Everything…
There is a song that I enjoy listening to when life seems overwhelming and chaotic, it’s called “One Step Away” by Matthew West. The message behind the song is that you are always one step away from God, nothing in your life is bigger than God, and God always wins!
When I found out that my reflection was going to post on 9/11, my first thought was I need to recognize what that day means to our country and share what it means to me. It is common to hear the question: “Where were you on 9/11?” Everyone remembers. For me, I was 10 years old and walking to school. Our crossing guard always listened to the radio, and I remember how sad he looked, because he was always happy, I thought it was weird, until I walked into the classroom, saw that the television was on and my teacher looked as sad and quiet as the crossing guard and while I didn’t fully understand, I knew something was wrong.
Every Sunday Pastor Mark says our prayers before Communion, and he includes a prayer for our police, fire, medical and military personnel. Their calling from God is to wake up every morning and serve their community and our country to protect our freedoms. My parents taught me growing up to always respect individuals, but especially these people. My dad served in the United States Army for almost 30 years. He didn’t talk about it much with me, I know he was a brave man, I remember seeing all his medals and awards after he died, and now I can only imagine the stories behind them.
Last year, I started a new tradition of honoring the people that died on 9/11/2001, and during prayer I realized that I had found a new way of honoring my dad’s life. Every year at Tempe Beach Park, members of the military, first responders, community leaders, and community members come together to raise a flag for every person that lost their lives that day. We raise a flag, put a name tag on each one, it shares the name and story of the person it represents, there are teddy bears for each child, and work boots for the first responders, and the airline employees have a special designation too. It is common to see people praying, family and friends sharing their personal stories, and a community coming together to recognize a day that changed everyone. This experience silenced me, made me listen, and hear God in a deeper way.
I don’t know about you, but I know there are dates on the calendar that when I hear them, they remind me of a day that changed everything, right now the three life changing dates that I recall are January 6th, 2019, my first Sunday at Praise and Worship and the day I officially met God for the first time. August 2nd, 2020, the day Pastor Mark and Father Dale baptized me. December 11th, 2021, the day God called my dad home to Heaven. Whatever dates remind you of life changing events, remember that they are also dates God changed your life, brought you closer to him and if you thought that life was crazy and chaotic remember you are always one step away from God. Trust that God has a plan for you.