As I got up late Tuesday morning, turned on the TV and started watching as planes flew into the World Trade Center, The Pentagon and the crash in Pennsylvania I began feeling overwhelming sadness and fear even though I live almost a thousand miles from where it was taking place. I realized America was being attacked. It even affected our little town (less than 3000) to the point, people were lined up at the gas pumps and police had to come out and start directing traffic to clear the street and allow traffic to pass. What is so strange to me now, is that I have heard more people calling out to God for help and asking for prayer then I have ever heard in my lifetime. I too am calling out to God for comfort, peace of mind and forgiveness. Also asking God to grant comfort and peace to those who have lost family and love ones from this tragedy. We have entered into tragic and frightening times like we have never know. I believe to some extent we all feel scared, helpless and vulnerable.
The reason I use the word strange above is because in my lifetime (47 years) I have seen us take prayer from our schools, I have heard of some wanting to take the words "One Nation Under God" out of The Pledge of Allegiance. We allow for the slaughter and I do mean slaughter of babies (if your have ever seen an abortion, you would understand), We do not want the Ten Commandments displayed publicly in our courtrooms anymore. Even though they are the very foundation of our laws. We have filled the internet, TV and our magazines with pornography. We allow sexual perversion to be viewed as just another lifestyle. We have just about taken God out of everything, and asked him to move over because we are in control. Now, all the sudden we want Him back!! I for one feel better knowing we do!!
Don't get me wrong, even with its faults I would never, never want to live anywhere else, but The United State of America. I feel a great sense of pride when I see how this country has become united in prayer and patriotism. Tears come to my eyes now when I hear Our National Anthem and see people pause and bow their head for moments of silence and prayer. I watch these firemen, police, EMT's, paramedics and ordinary citizens working so hard and wish so much I could be there to help.
Some of my comfort comes, because I believe President Bush is a strong leader and is not afraid to let people know, that even though we have the most powerful armed forces and the greatest people on earth we still need God's help and direction to guide us through this and any crisis.
I still feel some fear, because of the unknown, just not knowing exactly what we are going to face in the weeks to come. , but I am putting my trust and faith in God. I don't think some realize how vulnerable we still are.
My hope is that we remember in the days, months and years to come we remember Whom we called on and Who we want to guide us and be in control of our nation and our lives. Lets please continue our prayers.
Who knows, maybe after we recover enough for life as we knew it to get back as normal as it can, we could start coming together with such strength as we have shown during this crisis and bring back some of these essentials of faith. I certainly hope so...
May God Bless America
Mike Dupwe
Manila, Arkansas
(Now from Paragould, AR)
"NOW that the President has called us to prayer ...
NOW that Congress has called us to prayer ...
NOW that our Governor has called us to prayer...
NOW that the city Mayor has called us to prayer...
NOW that the "liberal" media and most other branches of our American
society have called us to prayer...
AND NOW that our churches are assembling in special prayer...
"Honorable" Justices of the Supreme Court, I have only one question."
"WOULD IT BE O.K. TO PRAY IN OUR SCHOOLS NOW?"
If we should meet and you forget me
you have lost nothing.
But if you meet Jesus and forget Him,
You have lost everything.