I watched in agony, on Sunday, as the news showed the planes crashing into the Towers. Oh, how the pain resurfaced, and tears, once again began to flow. I honestly forgot how painful that day was, watching the Towers get hit and then gone. My heart wrenched as all the emotions came flooding back to me…we all still feel the sting…9.11 is our Pearl Harbor.
But, it is flight #93 that I would like to talk about. This plane crashed in Shanksville,PA, never reaching its destination….Thank God!
I need to talk about Todd Beamer and the passengers of that flight.
I believe that on that fatal day( 9.11.01) flight number 93 aircraft wings were transformed into the wings of angels. The name of one of the angels…Todd Beamer.
Todd Beamer was just like me and you. Just like all the people, who on that day expected no change in their daily routine. Up at dawn, brushing teeth, swig of coffee, dressed, and out the door, went to work, or caught a plane, everyday it is done, without a second thought. And Todd, I am 100% sure, did not give that day a second moments thought.
I will presume neither did the terrorist. They never gave the passengers of flight # 93 a second thought. They just assumed that they (the terrorist) would be in complete control. Little did they know that Todd was a passenger on this flight, and that he, along with others, would be in control and bring down the plane, not the terrorists.
I would guess it did not take the passengers very long to realize this was a flight to hell. As they made connections with the outside world they quickly became aware of the attack on the World Trade Center.
Todd Beamer, tried to contact his family, but he only connected to GTE supervisor, Lisa D. Jefferson. Only! It was Lisa, a perfect stranger, who gave comfort to Todd in his final moments. As Todd explained to Lisa that the passengers were getting ready to overtake the terrorists, he asked Lisa to recite the Lords’ prayer with him.
It was after completing this prayer that the infamous words were said,
“LET’S ROLL”
This was the signal to ram into the cockpit and overtake the terrorist.
These passengers formed a voluntary army. They fought for control. In doing so they prevented the terrorist from accomplishing their evil, evil plan.
LET’S ROLL...simple words, after a simple prayer.
I believe that Todd’s and Lisa’s prayer was answered.
Did the passengers want to crash? NO! Of course not! But, they had to have known that they would not make it out alive. It took considerable strength, as well as courage, to go down fighting. These passengers were not military, firemen, or policemen, who dedicate their lives to protect, and by God many firemen, and policemen, died doing their duty on that frightful day.
No these passengers were everyday folks, remember like I said,”Just like you and me.” They were aware of the bomb that the terrorist had strapped on him.
Where did this strength come from? You can make your own assumptions, but I say it came from the God that Todd Beamer and Lisa prayed to. God responded to the prayer. Not by saving their lives, but by saving the lives of others.
Flight #93 was presumed to be headed for the White house. I shudder at the thought if the terrorist had completed their mission.
I do not know if Todd lived a life of faith, but he died in faith.
Todd and the other passengers gave up the most precious thing they had…LIFE...and that decision was theirs.
The passengers of flight #93 showed, you don’t have to accept the presence of evil…for when good people stand up to evil, it always fails…history has recorded that many times.
It has also been said that the flight recorder also recorded a terrorist yell “Allah Akbar” (God is Great)…Yes, I am in full agreement with this terrorist…GOD IS GREAT!!...
Thank You, Great God, for blessing us with Todd Beamer, who today is celebrating with you in heaven.
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