Five years ago on a beautiful clear September morning, our world lost its innocence……forever.

I am sure we all remember exactly where we were on that dreadful morning of September 11, 2001……a day that we will never forget. On that morning our lives were all changed, as we heard the news of the horrific acts of terrorism that affected not only our nation, but the entire world. We watched in horror and disbelief as planes crashed into a Pennsylvania field, the Pentagon and the World Trade Center, crumpling this idyllic structure to the ground. The loss of thousands of lives, the destruction of families and the devastating loss of faith and hope in humanity reverberated throughout society for months to come……and for many, life has never been the same since. It is hard to recall the sense of calmness in life pre-September 11^th. For many of us, this event was a life-defining moment. Many questioned God, their faith, their jobs, the meaning of their lives after this horrific day……many turned their back on God while others sought to find Him. However each of us dealt with the pain, we all managed to move on with our lives……but, we all know that the pain of loss never goes away…….

The passing of time helps heal wounds, but the world has still been changed forever. The recent news of a thwarted plan of terrorism against numerous American airlines only makes these painful memories of innocent lives lost reemerge again. There is no doubt that Satan is a strong, living and breathing force in this world. September 11^th was and is proof of that.

As we approach the 5^th anniversary of September 11^th we need to remind ourselves that life is not only precious, but a gift from God. We need to live each day to its fullest – enjoying our days with the people we care about – our family members and friends. No one knows when our last day will be here in this fallen world, but while we are here we need to remain strong in our faith and help persevere against the forces of evil. Jesus died for us, fighting against these forces of evil so that we may have eternal life. The knowledge that there is goodness beyond our life here should bring us comfort, especially on dark days like September 11^th. As we remember the souls of the innocent lives lost and pray for the families left behind, recall the words of our Savior in His final moments…..

“Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit.”                                  Luke 23:46

                                                                    Lynn T. Cetin M.D.