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This summer we have had several dramatic events in the United States. The war with Iran stands alone as a dramatic event over the last six months. Our prayers, as always, are for our military, peace and lower gas and food prices. We also celebrated the milestone of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, which was adopted in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on July 4, 1776. What an honor to be living during this time of the semiquincentennial of our great country. As an old commercial used to say, we have come a long way, but we still have a long way to go. It also makes me think, how old am I? I remember celebrating the bicentennial of our country in 1976. It's a privilege to be alive to see our progress as well as the things we still need to improve. Sadly, there was the loss of Dolly Parton, the great singer of multiple styles, songwriter and, most importantly, a great humanitarian. The one thing I want to talk about is the 25th anniversary of 9/11.
This past week was the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 tragedy. It is hard to believe that 25 years have passed, but the fact is it happened Sept. 11, 2001, and that was 25 years ago. I remember the very minute we saw the plane go into the Twin Towers in New York City. It was happening during the 7 a.m. news that I normally watch every day. We thought it interesting until we started hearing about other planes hitting other places. There was a second plane that hit another tower, and a plane hit the Pentagon outside Washington, D.C. Then the plane that might have been headed to the White House came down in the Pennsylvania countryside.
My oldest child, my daughter, came down to the family room asking me, "Dad, is this the end? What is happening? What's going on? Is this the rapture?" She was 20 years old and was just starting college. Our middle child, my son, who was 18, was in his senior year of high school. They both were now in the family room with me. As I was beginning to attempt to answer, my wife of 22 years walked in holding our youngest child and son, who was just turning 3 years old.
They were all waiting for an answer to what the next few days, weeks, months and years would be like in America and in our family. I must admit I did pray that day, around 6 a.m., but nothing was said to me about this special day. So, as I struggled to come up with an answer that would not only inform but comfort, my mind went blank. I had been pastoring 21 years at the time, 11 years of them in Wheeling, West Virginia, but nothing prepared me for this moment.
I gave them all the best answer I had at the time. It was informational, but it was not comforting. Although it was informational, I don't think it was the information they were seeking. My answer was, "I do not know. Only God knows!" What we did do is have our family devotion, and we prayed for America, for those who lost someone and for all of our futures.
This was of importance to me because that Wednesday, I was to take a flight to Dallas, Texas, for a pastoral conference. Although I fly a great deal, I am always concerned every time I fly anywhere. My pastor friend was leaving that morning from Pittsburgh on Tuesday, Sept. 11, and I would meet him the next day, Sept. 12.
It was not until later that the gasoline from the planes ran down the towers and both towers came down. In the early morning, people were coming down and were told there were no problems, they were still safe and to go back up to their jobs. A decision they would all regret. The feelings going on in me were unique.
It must have been what it was like on Dec. 7, 1941, when they experienced an attack on Pearl Harbor. In talking with some of the members who were alive then, some told me they were in the ninth grade, some heard it on the radio, some saw it in the paper and some heard from others, but all were nervous about the future. Sept. 11, 2001, was our generation’s Pearl Harbor Day.
Later that day, I would be asked to speak to the community via the 6 p.m. CBS news. They called and asked me to say something. They asked me the same question my daughter asked me earlier: "Rev., do you think this is the end of the world, or what the church calls the rapture?"
Now I had all day to think and pray about it. I had seen the towers fall, planes fall, dust-covered figures of those who made it out of the towers and heard the news all day long. Now I was ready for the question. I boldly took the mic and said to them, "I don't know, only God knows, but I know what we should do, we should pray for God to help us, our country, our city, our families, and the families of those that lost a loved one, our president, our government and all that are in authority." Before they could answer me, I started praying out loud for those very things. At the end of the prayer, the anchorman said, "What did you do? You can't pray on a newscast? You are going to get us in trouble!" I told him, "I am sorry, just tell them you did not know what that crazy preacher was going to do."
The next day, he called me and said, "Pastor Cummings, we have been getting hundreds of calls about what you did at the end of the 6 p.m. news. Our switchboards have been busy all day." I asked, "What did they say?" He said, "They all said, so glad someone prayed."
The next day I was asked to come to several local schools and colleges and have prayer at the flagpole for anyone who wanted to pray with us. At one school, over 100 students showed up and prayed with me.
Within the next two weeks, we were allowed to actually go to New York City as a chaplain and minister to firefighters, police and military personnel who were bivouacked in the various parks. While my wife and I visited with the different heroes, we went to the site that was still smoking at the time. We stepped over spots where body parts were found. We talked to the people who were doing such powerful work. I will never forget the smells, sounds and faces we saw in New York. We only stayed a few days, but they were days we will never forget.
It's been 25 years now, but I hope, with all that is going on in this world, somebody is still praying. I know I am. I hope you are, too!