"I lift up my eyes to the mountains— where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth." Psalm 121:1-2
I try not to comment much on the events of September 11, 2001 on the day of its anniversary. I just don't want to trivialize the sacrifice of others by sharing my own story.
I understand the gut-wrenching emotion as one who left a friend to board a plane at JFK that day and only realized at the end of the day, he was not on one of the flights that hit the towers.
I was also at Ground Zero with hundreds of others who were rendering service within hours of the tragic events of the day. The acts were both brazen and cowardly as people sought to murder many innocent people.
I remember the smells, the debris, the dust and carnage. I also remember the helpful spirit of every New Yorker and all those New Yorkers at heart that day and the days afterward. Frankly, most of us were just numb that day and reacting to the situation the best we knew how or could.
I also remember the desperate looks on the faces of people. I remember people sobbing and wandering aimlessly. I remember the frantic nature of everyone. I remember hearing one phrase over and over again, as I stood in my uniform that day, "Can you help me?"
I wallowed in my own disbelief and emotional paralysis. I was as stuck as those who were asking me to help them. Then these words I had memorized years before came to me and I prayed. Almost supernatural resolve took over. It was something I had never experienced before.
Don't you love the honesty of the Psalmist? At his wit's end he simply just says, "God You are the only one Who can help."
I am not sure what trauma the writer was experiencing. It had to be great. I am sure he had friends. I am sure he had his "professional clergy" and others. He knew at that time their well-meaning words and maybe actions would fail them too.
Maybe you are remembering this 9/11 the horrors of that day, reliving incredible hurt. Maybe you are being faced today with trauma of great magnitude. It may be the death of a loved one. Possibly, your child is wandering in places you wish they wouldn't. Maybe you are alone and afraid, trapped in a situation from which you can't extricate yourself.
The words and actions of friends or caring professionals just aren't enough in times of severe trauma. Don't make God the last resort. He waits to help. Lift your eyes to him.
