I was running late for class that morning. I dropped the carpool kids off at school and drove in silence not realizing what had happened. There was an eerie silence in the halls of the seminary when I entered. Oddly everyone seemed to be stuffed into the auditorium with a few strands of folks pouring out the doorways. Stunned, I joined them in watching the unfolding horror. I remember a deep longing to be with my family. To have them near. To touch and hold each one of them.
At some point in the morning, President Plantinga stood up, turned the television off, and began to read. He read Psalm 46. I try to read it on each anniversary of that unspeakably aweful event.
46 God is our refuge and strength,
a very present[a] help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear though the earth should change,
though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea;
3 though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble with its tumult.Selah
4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy habitation of the Most High.
5 God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved;
God will help her right early.
6 The nations rage, the kingdoms totter;
he utters his voice, the earth melts.
7 The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our refuge.[b]Selah
8 Come, behold the works of the Lord,
how he has wrought desolations in the earth.
9 He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
he breaks the bow, and shatters the spear,
he burns the chariots with fire!
10 “Be still, and know that I am God.
I am exalted among the nations,
I am exalted in the earth!”
11 The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our refuge.[c]Selah
I remember too these words from Martin Luther King Jr. today.
"Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive our hate: only love can do that."
Love and light to all today.
Ruth
