On
the morning of Tuesday, September 11, 2001, I learned of the attacks in New York and
Washington D.C. from my wife via my alpha pager. I was teaching an
8:00 a.m. college psychology class when my pager first went off. I remember
feeling a confused disbelief as I read the first message:
8:20
am CDT - "world trade center buildings - both just air bombed with
planes loaded with explosives - on fire - people dead - its
terrible"
However, as Shannon sent additional
messages with each developing event, a strange reality overcame me that
something truly dreadful was happening in and to our nation.
Later,
while driving to make a presentation at our local hospital, I was
listening to live reports from New York on the radio when I heard loud
rumbling sounds and the commentator exclaimed, "Oh my God, the
North Tower is collapsing!" Upon arriving at the hospital, I
found a television and saw what was becoming the endless replay of the
plane crashes and tower collapses. I stood in stunned silence as
the magnitude of the events hit me. I was in shock.
For
the rest of that day and the next, like much of America, I was glued to the television, radio, or Internet. What I saw made
me feel as if I was a small child lost in a strange place without my
parents. Then, on Wednesday evening, after our kids were in bed,
while reading news stories on the Internet, I came across the below
photograph of three firefighters raising an American flag. I
immediately became overwhelmed with emotion.
I
thought of many things, from the photograph of the Marines raising the
flag in World War II to the mythical Phoenix rising from its
ashes. I felt a need to do something, so I began to pray.
And as I prayed, I typed. I felt lost in the images of
destruction, so I imagined myself as a little child sitting on the big,
safe lap of my Heavenly Father.
I
shared with my Heavenly Father my pain, my fear, and my confusion about
where to turn. After praying and typing the first part, I again
looked at the photo of the firefighters raising the flag. I
realized that the image was not of rescue or recovery, but was a sign
that we will not be beaten down, but will stand up. I then began
recalling ways in which God restores us after disasters in our personal
lives. I thought of the story of the Prodigal Son who, upon
returning home, found his father eagerly waiting for him with open
arms. I thought of our nation's founding fathers who believed that
to build a nation without the favor of God would be to build it in
vain. I then prayed and typed the second half of the prayer in the
style of my Heavenly Father speaking words of comfort and
hope.
When
finished, I shared the 911 Prayer with my wife, who with tears in her
eyes encouraged me to send it to our friends via email. From that
initial email, our friends passed it to their friends, and it has
spread from there. It has been a blessing to me to receive many
email messages in return from people who were comforted by the words
of the prayer.
That
is the story behind the 911 Prayer. I hope it provides you with
comfort and hope as it did me. Please feel free to distribute it
to those you believe it will help. However, I do ask one thing in
return, please do not change or modify it with the intention to send
or distribute it to others. I realize that some may see
doctrinal flaws they want to correct
or specific phrases they want to embellish. It was never meant to be a
"fancy" church-style pray, but a simple prayer from a
bleeding heart who needs the secure comfort of a Heavenly Father.
With
that said, below is the original and accurate text of
The 911 Prayer.
The 911 Prayer
Heavenly Father,
At times like this we don't know what to say,
what to feel, what to do.
We cry, we stare, we burn with anger,
we cry some more.
When our lives, our nation,
seems to quiver and quake
as to what next to do,
we are drawn to you.
When we cannot stand ourselves
because the burden is too great,
we turn to you.
When the pain is too much to
bear,
we turn to you.
When we have lost friends, family,
and faith in this world, we turn to you.
We turn to you, now, Oh God.
With tears in our eyes and a lump in our throat,
we turn to you.
Oh Lord, what do we do?
And you tell us, "Stand Up, for I am with
you.
If you turn your face towards Me,
you will find Me facing you.
Stand Up for I am with you.
I will protect and comfort my own
through the pains of the day
and the cries of the night.
I will comfort the widow, the parent,
and especially the child.
I will give you a peace that passes
all human understanding
if you will turn towards Me.
You will rise, for My sake and for My
Glory.
You will heal, for My sake and for My
Glory.
You will have strength, for My sake and for My
Glory.
Turn to Me, and I will make you whole."
Heal us Lord, Heal us Lord, Heal us Lord.
Thank you Lord for your promises made and promises
kept.
Amen.
Larry Quicksall
September 12, 2001
Copyright 2001
