On being family

This is why I weep and my eyes overflow with tears. No one is near to comfort me, no one to restore my spirit.
—Lamentations 1:16

Your first instinct on that day 10 years ago was to check on your loved ones, near and far. I did it as well. Living in Washington, DC, there was much to check on. Moer than 3,000 church members, 2,000 college students, and about 1,000 academy and elementary students, all aware of the disaster and many nowhere near family.

Who comforts you when family is not around?

The thousands caught in the midst of chaos in New York City were separated from family and friends. Dr. Steven Henkind, now of the AHS Medical Informatics division, walked out of the first tower as the first plane struck. In the ensuing chaos and subsequent collapse of both towers he described how people became family to one another and cared for total strangers. He described giving his dying cell phone to a gentleman so he could call his family; reviving a woman who had collapsed amidst the swirling debris, and simply holding her hand despite the chaos reminding her she would be ok.

Who comforts you when family is not around?
That day many of us found comfort in our churches, places of work, even in familiar radio stations. I spent much of the evening on the college radio station, talking through the questions: "Where was God?" "How could this happen?" "What do we do?"

Reminding each other of the words of scripture: "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Rom 8:38-39

Who comforts you when family is not around?

The events of 9/11 will always be etched into our hearts, though they may grow faint with passing years. You and I should strive to honor those days, by practicing today what meant so much then… Caring/comforting each other like family!

In a few moments you are going to be caring for a patient or family member, for whom today is their personal 9/11 as the terror of cancer, accident or illness has invaded their lives.

Who will comfort them? Be their family, won’t you?