Psalm 23 – “The Lord is my shepherd; I lack for nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for His name’s sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil for You are with me; your road and your staff they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil.; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever”
September 11 is a date that will reverberate through history as a day the world as we knew it changed forever. We saw the worst of humankind, but we also saw the best. That day we saw unspeakable evil unleashed on innocent lives while we also saw heroic people doing heroic deeds that are just as strongly etched into our memories. Photos of firefighters resolutely climbing stairs, going against the tide of frightened people streaming down and out to safety. As we look at pictures today, we see the stalwart looks on their determined faces and know they were climbing to their death.
It’s what firefighters are trained to do. Right? Absolutely but firefighters are also human. Don’t you think they experienced some fear as they climbed into the unknown? I’m sure they did but they forged on. Just as these firefighters climbed into uncertainty that day, they continued their mission to help, protect and serve those who worked in the twin towers but they didn’t climb alone. God was with each and every one in every step and on every stair.
So, we too, make our daily climb. Some days it’s just our normal routine just like the workers in the twin towers thought their day was going to be that September 11th. Their routine turned into anything but routine and sometimes our days turn into anything but ordinary as well. But even though we face uncertainty in the face of the ordinary or the extraordinary, we always have someone walking alongside us. God promises us that we never walk alone. He is our constant companion, guide, caregiver, and lover of our soul. Even though we should have no fear, we, too, are human but we have a loving God with us as we take each and every step.
- Lindy Bell
