Shawn Hendricks
After the twin towers fell 24 years ago, President George W. Bush stood on a pile of rubble at Ground Zero with a megaphone in hand and told a crowd of weary rescue workers “America today is on bended knee in prayer.” The country had suffered the worst terrorist attack on American soil, claiming nearly 3,000 lives, and was shaken to its core — but it also was shaken to prayer.
Reports soon surfaced of a surge in church attendance and people seeking God for answers. While some say that surge was short-lived, times of terror often turn people toward God and prayer.
Becoming numb
Today, as many Americans seem to have become numb to reports of horrific mass shootings and violence around the world, the call for prayer still resonates among Christians. It also sadly draws its share of sneers from those who mock people of faith who find comfort in crying out to the Lord.
During last month’s shooting at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis, a gunman opened fire on children during Mass, killing two and wounding many more. Jacob Frey, the mayor of Minneapolis, was quick to criticize calls for prayer. “Don’t just say this is about thoughts and prayers right now. These kids were literally praying.”
Frey also urged something else: “Do not think of these as just somebody else’s kids.” He added, “Those families are suffering immense pain right now. Think of this as if it were your own. Every one of us needs to be wrapping our arms around these families, giving them every ounce we can muster.”
Whether it’s a terrorist attack or a mass shooting, this indeed should be a challenge to believers to pray for others in a way that we are “wrapping our arms around these families” — and not merely saying “our thoughts and prayers are with you.” We should own these prayers.
Other political commentators drew criticism that week for saying that prayer is not enough. One political analyst said “Prayer does not end school shootings. Prayers do not make parents feel safe sending their kids to school. Prayer does not bring these kids back. Enough with the thoughts and prayers.”
While Christians believe prayers can change the world, we need to make sure our prayers go beyond trying to just say the right thing in the moment.
We must lift our prayers with that same determination of that mom photographed by the Minnesota Star running toward the site of the Catholic school shooting with her shoes in hand trying to get to her child as fast as possible. One journalist on Facebook commented, “I can feel her uncertainty, panic, desperation, determination and strength. There is a supernatural, innate gravitational pull of moms to her babies … especially in the face of danger. Nothing will stand in her way.”
Stories to tell
There’s a book by The New York Times, “Portraits of Grief,” that was released in 2002. It’s a collection of short portraits of the lives of all 3,000 people who died during the terrorist attack Sept. 11.
Among the portraits, there’s Terrance, a former pro basketball player in the Philippines; Matthew, who told a colleague at an office Christmas party that he had two goals: “improving at guitar and finding someone to love”; Christy, with her “big dark eyes” and “brown hair as shiny as mink”; Lee, who could “write complex computer programs off the top of his head”; and Janice, a “modern-day Renaissance woman: literary, artistic and skilled in finance” — and also very good with in-line skates.
Twenty-four years later, as shootings and terrorist attacks continue to make headlines, these stories serve as a reminder of the impact of one life. They also should remind us to stay on “bended knee in prayer” for others.
“If My people who are called by My name humble themselves, and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land” (II Chronicles 7:14).
As we remember the tragedy of 9/11, let us not forget the power of prayer. B&R
