Remembering 9/11

Today is the fifth anniversary of two planes crashing into the Twin Towers', and the towers' subsequent collapse in New York City. I am not sure why the 5th anniversary is any more memorable than, say, the 3rd anniversary, but we like to have things in numberical order, and 5, 10, 15, seem like reasonable markers. This picture shows a steel cross in the wreckage. (HT Kruse Kronicle)

In every age, in the midst of destruction and despair, the cross shows us of God's presence in the midst of suffering. I am not sure how we ever got the theological concept of God being immutable, or impervious to our suffering. But I am pretty convinced that is not the case. Why would Jesus weep over Jerusalem if that were the case?

It is a good day to remember:

1) How suddenly life can end, and how precious each moment of life really is.

2) The heroes of 9/11, the firemen and policemen, and ordinary citizens who did extraordinary things, some at the cost of their own lives.

3) The families of those who died. The wives. The husbands. The children. The friends and neighbors.

4) That there is evil in this world, and it needs to be resisted, in as many forms as we can.

5) That "though the wrong seems oft so strong, God is the ruler yet."