Recently I have been thinking about all the places I have been in my life and thinking about how close I have been (sometimes a lot closer than others) to some major tragedies around the world and how I felt returning to the same places shortly afterwards.
1. I think the first one I want to mention is the 9-11 World Trade Center tragedy. Toward the end of July 2001 I was in NYC visiting on a day trip from Connecticut. I actually went to the top of the Empire State Building and had my picture taken with the WTC Towers in the background. I also took a few pictures of the buildings by themselves as viewed from the top of the Empire State building. I had no idea that just 1.5 months later the buildings would not be there.
2. In October 2001, less than a month after 9-11, I got on a plane for Washington D.C., but had to fly in to Baltimore because the two main airports in DC were still closed to air traffic. While in DC there was a prayer service at the Pentagon exactly one month after the attacks (I was on the Mall and the Hill at the time of the service). Upon returning to my home, I learned that there was an anthrax break out in one of the buildings I had visited a Senator in and had to have an anthrax swap to see if I contracted it. Luckily I did not.
3. In July 2002, I returned to NYC and this time visited where the WTC once stood. I remember just standing in a trailer or tunnel like thing that they allowed for visitors to enter. Others around me were talking, but I just stood there in silence for what seemed the longest time. I started to cry thinking of the lives that had died in the area with which I was standing and then I started praying silently. After a few minutes others in my group stopped talking as well and started praying.
4. In August 2003, I returned again to NYC for a trip. I stayed in Manhattan and took the 3 Subway train out to Brooklyn each day for a children's camp I was helping lead. Shortly after returning home there was a major black out in NYC and I saw video on the News of people being stuck on the Subway and they just happened to show people on the 3 train (the exact train I had ridden 10 times the week before).
5. In January 2005, I made my first visit to New Orleans, Louisiana. Later that year one of the deadliest hurricanes, Katrina, hit New Orleans. It was strange to visit the city for the first time the same year that much of the city was destroyed or badly damaged.
6. The closest I have been to a major tragedy occurred on April 26th-27th, 2011. I was living in Birmingham, Alabama when some of the largest tornado activity ever occurred. The first round of tornadoes happened just a couple of miles from where I was living. The worst of the storm hit less than 10 miles from where I was living. I later visited some of the damaged areas and upon arriving in one neighborhood that was almost completely flattened, I remember thinking that there is no possible way someone could have been in their home at the time of this storm and survive. However, the group I was with helping with recovery work was sent to help out a young couple. Upon meeting the couple, I found out they had been at home and were in the basement when their entire house was destroyed. The girl was actually unharmed, but the guy actually was thrown several feet and suffered a few broken bones. As the summer went on, I talked with many different organizations that was helping with relief work and helped to organize a couple more groups to help with the relief work.
7. On January 26th, 2012, I traveled by train between Warsaw and Krakow, Poland. Not long after, March 4th to be exact, on the same train line, two trains collided with each other killing and injuring many. The pictures were horrifying and it was scary to think that I had been on the same train line.
All these experiences have helped me to become more and more aware how valuable and unpredictable our lives are. We should thank God for each new day he gives us and no matter what place we are in at the time, we should thank Him for the life he gives us.
I am thankful for my time I have spent in Poland thus far and I hope that I can continue to find Peace and spread the Peace the passes all understanding, the Peace of Christ.
Ben
