It has become a tradition that I play “White Feather” by Phil Ayoub in a special podcast released on September 11th. This year is no exception. Today I want to spend a few minutes just discussing some of my feelings today. With an upcoming presidential election I’m sure the candidates will take every opportunity to capitalize on this day of infamy. They’ll talk about the war, secure, renewable energy and wrap it up with a nice patriotic bow, ask God to bless America, wave and smile for the camera then immediately watch the networks to find out if they’ve impressed the American public while sending their pollsters out to find out if their comments resonated with the American people. That is not my intention, in fact, what you just heard will be my only mention of politics, the war, energy or anything remotely political.
I woke up thinking today was any other day. I shaved, brushed my teeth, showered, got dressed, fire up my PC to download podcasts, started brewing some coffee, made lunch and got ready for work. I sent out my usual “Mornin’ world” Tweet loaded up my Blackberry with a couple of podcasts and headed to work. A Tweet from epstudios reminded me of the date. Drat. I’d forgotten.
The first thing on my mind this morning after the alarm clock buzzed was not 9/11/01, it was me. I know because I prayed for myself right after the alarm woke me up. In fact it was over an hour until I realized what the date was. I told myself last week, “I’m not going to forget 9/11.” Yet I did for about 75 minutes.
For 75 minutes I allowed myself to only think about myself and what I wanted. I only thought about what would make me secure, what would make me happy or what would get me through the day. After the guilt and shame was abolished from my thoughts and emotions I started to think about my podcast today and what I would talk about. I didn’t want it to be trite or deeply spiritual yet I wanted today’s podcast to be significant.
Proverbs 11:10,11 reads, “When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices, and when the wicked perish there are shouts of gladness. By the blessing of the upright a city is exalted, but by the mouth of the wicked it is overthrown.” The entire chapter is full of these contrasts. So today is not about how we should “get back at those rotten Muslims” but about recognizing that God is with the righteous. I’m certainly not saying that the events on 9/11 occurred because we as a nation aren’t righteous. Rain falls on the just and the unjust, Matthew 5:45 (perhaps those people in Houston praying against Hurricane Ike should take a hint from their Bibles). What I am saying is that we as Christians should be demonstrating our righteousness in Christ (Romans 5:21) and not try to be self-righteous.
When I realized that I was feeling guilt and shame because I was being self-righteous I was able to look to Jesus and say to myself, “It’s OK. I can forget as long as when I’m reminded I respond appropriately.”
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