A response to the tragic events of September 11

September 16, 2001 — by Per Christensson

On Tuesday morning, I woke up to my radio alarm hearing the words, "The second World Trade Center building has just fallen to the ground." I thought surely this was some kind of joke or fictional story being broadcast on the radio station. However, as these words were followed with further information about another plane crashing into the Pentagon and yet another having gone down in Pennsylvania, I soon realized this was real.

Shocked and dismayed, I walked to the television set and watched the horrible scene of the second plane crashing into the World Trade Center. "This kind of thing just doesn't happen in the United States," I thought to myself. But it did.

Such a horrible atrocity brings people to view life in new ways. We realize how fragile life is and how quickly it can be taken away. I can't explain why such a terrible evil was committed against our country, nor can I comprehend the sorrow so many people now feel. I can only contend that the purpose of this was far greater than anything I can understand. My deepest sympathy is with anyone who knew any of the victims of the terrorist attacks.

It is my prayer that we would see good come out of such a horrible evil. And we have seen some light shine though the darkness already. It has been refreshing to see our nation come together in such strong unity. It has been heart-warming to see so many people give up their time and resources to help the victims and the rescuers. It has been humbling to see so many turn to God in prayer in this time of great distress.

Now, as our nation continues to grieve, our government must take wise action. Surely something must be done, but how to respond and to what extent is hard to determine. Revenge may seem sweet, but in the end, it only furthers evil. No measure of retaliation can fully make right the enormous wrong done to our nation. There is no way to balance the wrongfully weighted scale that we have been handed.

Yet I promote no restraint in terminating those who so vehemently attacked our people and our nation. There is a great evil out there that we must seek and destroy. However, we must realize the repercussions of our actions and be careful not to unduly harm others. A situation such as this requires wisdom that is not inherently possessed by mankind. I ask that you would join me in praying for the leaders of this mighty nation, that God would grant them the wisdom they need. I continue to pray also for those who have been so hurt and broken by this travesty. May God bless the United States of America.