9/11: Do You Still Remember?

9/11: Do You Still Remember?

Most of you reading this post can tell me where you were on 9/11/01. You can probably remember how you felt, what you were thinking and who you called. It seems impossible that it was eight years ago today. Our world changed, our nation changed and we changed. We now look at things differently as the events of that day literally changed our paradigm. The impact of that day could never be minimized.

However, as time has passed, maybe the fears, anger, unity, call to action and even patriotism has abated. Crisis often produces heroes, people of resistance. Events like 9/11 seem to bring out the best in us and forge our resolve. But time is a thief. The vivid images that once rallied us can fade and the clarity of the call to action may be nothing more than an echo.

So when was the 9/11 in your youth ministry? What event changed you and gave you a passion to reach youth? Was it the day you had to bury one of the students from your youth group? Was it watching a student or friend walk away from God towards self-destruction?  Was it a suicide note?  The realization that students are lost without Christ?  The truth that Hell is a reality? Or was it some other personal crisis that brought you to the end of yourself? What caused you to become dissatisfied with the status quo?

Perhaps today would be a good day to remember that pivotal point before time gives birth to distance and the decision is simply a remote memory? Replay the mental movie that incited ministry transformation. Ask God to rekindle the fire in your soul and remember why we do what we do.