When the World Shifted: 25 Years On from September 11th
Tragedy has a way of shattering our sense of security, forcing us to grapple with grief, anger, and the difficult question of where God is in the midst of human suffering and, twenty-five years after the 9/11 attacks in the United States, Angie looks back on a day that began like any other and turned into a nightmare felt around the globe; creating a pain that would still be felt a quarter of a century later. Her reflection doesn’t offer easy answers to life’s deepest pain, but instead points toward empathy, shared humanity, and a steady faith that carries us through the darkest days.
September 11th 2001 is a day that I’ll never forget. It was the day, 25 years ago, of the terror attacks in New York.
My husband and I were living in the heart of Silicon Valley, California at the time and preparing to go to work. The TV was on in the bedroom when news of a plane crash into one of the towers came on. We stood and watched in total shock at the images of the tower burning, only to be stunned even further when we watched another plane crash into the other tower. Thoughts raced through our minds as we tried to comprehend what was happening. Was it real? It felt like we had been transported into a Stephen Spielberg catastrophe movie. But sadly, it was real …
I drove to work listening to the news, anxious to hear more, but at the same time, feeling sick to my stomach that such a thing could happen. The office was eerily quiet when I arrived, with people talking in hushed tones in the hallways, the shock and horror of it all starting to settle in. I don’t recall much work being done that day, as we all huddled around our computers awaiting updates and watching the repeating scenes of the disaster. What had started out as a normal workday, had turned into one of the most shocking days in history and my life.
The next few days were a blur with people crying and hugging each other, feeling a sense of loss. Family members from all corners of the globe phoned each other to check that everyone was accounted for and to comfort one another. Churches opened their doors and services were held to help process the intense grief that the country felt. Names of those lost were starting to be published and even though I didn’t know any of them personally, I felt an incredible mix of anger and sadness. Why did God allow this to happen? It wasn’t fair. We heard stories of husbands that had been lost, with their pregnant wives now facing the future alone as a single parent. What should have been a joyous time for those families had now turned into tragedy.
I will never understand why tragedies like these happen, but cling to my belief in an all-loving God who allows these for reasons beyond my comprehension. Pain helps us to connect on a deeper level with those around us, empathy in shared experiences. As a Christian, I’m grateful that no experiences are wasted and one day we’ll see the other side of the tapestry where for now, we can only see the back of it with all its confusion and mess.
About The Author
Angie was born in the UK, but spent 26 years living in California before returning to England 3 years ago.
She attended a church in the heart of Silicon Valley with her husband Rob, where she helped with the kids and special needs programme.
She worked as an Executive Assistant, which at times, was a little like herding cats! She enjoys baking, organizing and travelling.
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