One year ago today I was listening to the news on the car radio while driving to work. The radio announcers were speculating about Roger Clemmons next pitching assignment for the New York Yankees. Shortly thereafter, I heard the report that an airplane had struck the World Trade Center in New York. Having flown out of La Guardia and knowing how sharply the planes bank when they fly over Manhattan, I assumed that something had gone wrong with the plane, the pilot or both. I drove on to the office. I had only been there a few minutes when we received a telephone call at the office informing us that two planes had crashed into the World Trade Center. My heart sunk. I knew it was not an accident.

Before the day was done, Norman would be gathering with others of different faiths to pray about the terrible event that had befallen our nation.

Now we are one year away from that terrible time. Have we healed? No. Has terrorism gone away? No. Are we any different now than we were a year ago? We think so. Our sense of physical security has been compromised? If we approached life with the swagger of arrogance, that's gone, and maybe that's a good thing. As for us, we are much more aware of our need to depend on God than ever before.

There's one other thing that comes to our minds. On the night of September 11, 2001, we received a call from our son, who lives several hundred miles away. He was wishing we could all be together as a family. He thought it was an important time for family members to support each other, to put our differences in the background and stand together against the harshness of the world. Each of four children, spouses and grandchildren live in four different states but by the evening of last September 11, we talked with all of them and even though miles apart, felt a togetherness that is still with us today.

For more than six years we have used this newsletter to promote family solidarity. The events of one year ago have served to reinforce our need to do just that.

Norman and Ann

Recently we listened to the broadcast of a sports event on the car radio. Shortly after tuning in we recognized the announcer's voice. Marv Albert was calling the play-by-play. In 1997, Albert pleaded guilty to a sexual misdemeanor charge. NBC summarily fired him. Who would have ever dreamed that he would be broadcasting sports events five years later? Nevertheless somebody forgave Marv Albert and gave him a job.

I suppose some people consider it an outrage that he's allowed to sit in front of a microphone and speak to a national audience. Hopefully he has repented of his sins. Whether he has or not doesn't affect the point we want to make. As we were listening to the ball game and thinking about his unsavory past, Ann commented, "The world is more willing to forgive than some Christians are."

That's a serious indictment, but who can doubt its accuracy? Why are we so hesitant to forgive? Do we think we are going to lose something valuable if we give up the grudges that eat on our insides? Does it make us less righteous if we forgive those who have been unrighteous and treat them with decency and respect? Does scripture require us to withhold forgiveness? If you're keeping resentment alive against someone who has offended you in the past, tell us how you read Matthew 6:14-15. "For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins."

"What the world needs now is love." That theme has been echoed over the last several decades and it's true. But forgiveness is love in action. We need forgiveness in the church, in the family, in the workplace, in the centers of commerce, on the playground and everywhere people engage one another in the business of living. Let it not be said of those who profess to be Christians that the world is more willing to forgive than we are.

My son said, "Mother, if you wouldn't watch all that news your blood pressure might go down." I replied, "Oh, Jamey, I have read the book and I know how the story ends. I am very interested though to see how it all unfolds."

At a time when the news can be very disconcerting, there are reassurances from God's word. First of all, why would we expect that life would be easy or without difficulty? Job told us "Man born of woman is short of days and full of trouble."

Some have allowed the events of September 11, 2001, to rob them of their faith. They have asked how a good and loving God can stand by and not prevent such pain and wickedness. I have had to wonder at the selfishness of such a mindset. Many other atrocities, of even a worse kind have been committed by the wicked of the world and we chose to have our faith. Hitler slaughtered millions more than were killed on our home front a year ago. Yet when such overt evil fell on our doorstep some began to wonder "Where is this loving, caring God and does he exist after all?"

Yes, I am aware of the beautiful writings of several who identified blessings and gifts of life in the midst of our national tragedy. My thoughts right now are directed to those who would allow the terrorist attack to shake their faith, or allow others to mock those of us who do believe.

Recently I heard a young man by the name of Charles Johnson speak to a group of counselors. He works with inner-city youth who have grown up in extreme poverty and moral depravity. He has a very successful program called the "Ten Rites of Passage." He said the very first thing he wants these young people to know is that life is hard. He said, "From the womb to the tomb, from birth to death, from the cradle to the grave, I want them to know that life is hard." They must come to terms with the fact that there is no utopia.

The dream is not out there for any of us. Larry Crabb states it well in his book Inside Out. There he explains that we were created for a perfect world, with a perfect relationship with the Father and perfect relationships with one another. But that was lost in the garden. We do not have it here. But we will always yearn for it. What we have now is our hope, our settled assurance that we will enjoy our "glorious inheritance" in time. That IS how the story ends.

As Christians, this troublesome time calls us to faith. Faith in a God who is good and is the only answer. Scott Peck says it well. As he examines the ubiquitous presence of evil, he identifies the most awesome question of all. Here in the midst of a world where there are thieves, murderers, terrorists, moths, rust and decay, Peck asks, "Where does good come from?" In this fallen world, that is the marvel, that there is any good. But we know that the author of every good and perfect gift is God. (James 1:17)

We've been singing about this for a while. Now that it has hit us squarely, let us return to the things we knew before. Let us put on the whole armor of God, that we can stand against the wiles of the devil. "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." (Ephesians 6:11)

• "Troublesome times are here. filling men's hearts with fear...


• but "Jesus is coming soon morning or night or noon...
  


• Righteous meet in the skies, going where no one dies,

Heavenward bound."

"Countless people have asked me, 'what can I do to help the war on terror?' The answer: overcome evil with acts of goodness. Love a neighbor. Reach out to somebody in need. Feed someone who is hungry, teach a child to read, or join in community efforts to prepare for emergencies by helping local firefighters and police." You can read other excerpts from the president's message.