Today is Thursday and tradition calls for a Thursday Rundown. But it is also September 11. Obviously, tradition be damned. However, since there is a logical and respectful way to make it work, I thought I would write tonight’s post in a rundown format that would focus on 9/11. So, sorry, no weird sodas I saw at Grocery Outlet or cute photos of my kids at community events tonight.

From Inside the Towers – This week I watched a documentary that covered a perspective I had never really considered before. The film focused on telephone calls made from inside the World Trade Center towers as the attack happened (thousands were made). Many calls to 911 and loved ones were recorded and then shared during the documentary. Some people who phoned their loved ones knew death was imminent and conducted themselves with so much bravery and calm. Others who called 911, especially those in some of the upper floors above the impact zone, didn’t know the extent of the damage. The documentary said it was a rare instance when people on the outside could assess the severity of the situation better than those on the inside.

From the Planes – While many people in the Twin Towers didn’t know right away how bad things were, those innocent victims on the planes did. Back in 2017, I took a moment to reflect on a voicemail a passenger on United Airlines Flight 175 left for his wife. I won’t write it out here because you can read it below, but as a relatively new husband and father at the time, it touched me to an incredible degree. To be on a flight from hell and have the composure to leave such a loving and thoughtful message will always stick with me. If Brian could communicate in such a graceful way under unspeakable conditions, there is no excuse for me to not do the same during my everyday life conditions.

Composure, courage, and love. May God bless Brian Sweeney.

Speaking to My Kids – In 2023, Sloan asked me about 9/11 for the first time. Last year, she brought up the topic again. When we first chatted about it, she said, “I wish only the bad people who took the planes died and not all the good people.” I thought it would become easier to watch 9/11 footage and talk about it as the years went by, but it has actually become harder for me. However, despite the difficulty, I still need to speak to Sloan about it (at a level she can understand). After all, in 2019 I wrote that we must never forget but always educate.

Putting Faces to the Victims – The thousands of people who died during the 9/11 attacks came from all walks of life and all had unique stories. However, it is easy for the faces and stories of victims to be minimized when a mass killing event transpires. While watching a 9/11 remembrance ceremony in 2021, I started to jot down the names of victims who were announced. I then started Googling them and eventually wrote about five of them.

Perspective – The tragedy of 9/11 should be remembered 365 days per year—not just on the anniversary. If we do this, I think it helps us put life in better perspective. Back in 2018 I was stressing over a hurricane that had potential to make landfall near Myrtle Beach. After thinking about all the ways it could impact our property, home, and lives, I decided to reflect on the cruel and instantaneous fate that met the thousands who died on 9/11. The hurricane was a forecasted event and my family had plenty of time to evacuate…unlike those who perished on September 11. That put an end to my “woe is me” thinking.

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Take time tonight to reflect on 9/11. I know it isn’t the most soothing thing to think about while trying to fall asleep but I think it is necessary. May we pray for the souls of those who lost their lives and the loved ones who still cope with the pain every single day. Don’t Blink.