Author’s Note: I wrote this before the shocking news of the murder of Charlie Kirk, which reminds me how fragile life is; as we remember 9/11, may we lean into the light that shines through even the darkest days.
September 11 returns each year, a solemn weight in our collective memory. Nearly a quarter-century later, the images remain vivid: towers crumbling, smoke rising, first responders charging into danger, and ordinary people showing extraordinary courage. Do you remember the shock, and how those closest to the action found the resolve to respond?
I was far from New York or Washington that day, in the small town of Leesville, Louisiana. It was a Tuesday like any other—or so I thought. I unpacked my briefcase, sipped coffee, and logged into my work computer, unaware that the world was shifting. In 2001, news traveled slowly—internet was clunky, cell phones basic. A colleague’s urgent voice broke the morning calm:
“A plane hit the World Trade Center.”
In that instant, the world seemed to tilt sideways. Science fiction and fantasy had filled much of my reading life, but nothing had prepared me for this reality.
Where were you? What went through your mind that day?
As “ordinary” crumbled into piles of concrete and steel, it pulled millions into a moment that would redefine us. Yet in that darkness, light emerged—courage, unity, and hope.
Courage in Crisis
The heroism of 9/11 was raw and unscripted. Firefighters climbed stairwells toward flames. Passengers on Flight 93 fought back against hijackers. Strangers shielded strangers, setting aside differences of race, creed, politics, and background in the moment. Watching from central Louisiana, I couldn’t help but notice the echo of that selfless love in their acts.
These moments revealed humanity’s capacity to put others first, even in crisis. Their courage spoke to everyone—showing what we’re capable of when tested.
Unity in Grief
For a time, our nation grieved as one. Flags appeared on porches, churches and community centers overflowed, and neighbors offered comfort. I heard stories of friends and family caught directly in the destruction, and shared their pain of being far away, unable to help. On the news, strangers shared tearful conversations in grocery stores, their differences forgotten.
That unity, however fleeting, showed what’s possible when we come together in shared sorrow. Too often it takes existential fear to get our attention.
Hope Amid Uncertainty
The aftermath of 9/11 tested more than resolve—it tested the human spirit. Many wrestled with questions. In my corner of the world, I asked: Why did this happen? How do we go on?
Hope became a quiet defiance of fear—a choice to rebuild, to care, to endure. Who or what gave you courage that day, or in the days that followed? Did someone’s small act of kindness help you keep going?
Lessons That Endure
Anniversaries like 9/11 are teachers. They remind us that evil exists, but so does courage. Life is fragile, yet love and service persist. The stories of people across the country—the firefighters, the passengers, the neighbors, the volunteers—show that ordinary people can rise to extraordinary challenges.
Each year, New York’s Tribute in Light, two beams echoing the Twin Towers’ footprint, stands as a symbol of that defiance, turning loss into a beacon of remembrance.
Those small acts mirrored the nation’s larger story of coming together. For me, these lessons align with my beliefs that call us to bear one another’s burdens and live with compassion. They challenge us all—Christian or not—to act with integrity, comfort the grieving, and hold fast to hope.
Closing Reflection
Nearly twenty-five years later, 9/11 feels distant to a generation that knows it only as history. For those of us who lived it, whether in New York or a small town like Leesville, the weight lingers. It’s a day to reflect on light shining in darkness and love overcoming fear.
Yet these truths belong to everyone who chooses courage over despair, unity over division. It’s our task to bear witness—not just to the tragedy, but to the heroism and humanity that followed. May we honor the fallen by living with compassion, courage, and hope, trusting that even in our darkest moments, light endures.
That’s it for now. Thanks for showing up. It matters.
Post Script: If you’ve got a memory, thought, or story from this day, I’d be glad to read it in the comments.
Veni, Vidi, Scripsi 
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