Where were you on 9/11? I was there.

Twelve years ago today, I was just off the Path Train from the sub-basement of the World Trade Center North Tower. Just walked into work 2 blocks when the first plane hit. Today carries alot of memories for me, as it does for everyone who was there, everyone who watched and mostly for those who sacrificed and lost loved ones. 

Each year, as this day passes I reflect back to the courage, strength and terror I witnessed. I think back to how life changed for so many drastically in that moment. Life is a fragile gift. Each day, each breath a blessing we get to enjoy.

This year, as I was in thought today, there are a few memories I want to share with this attached wisdom for you Lymies.

1. Allow people to come to your aid. There is such good will in the hearts of men. As observed on 9/11, people flocked in from all over the country to help. In your chronic Lyme, let people step in and show you they are made in the image of our creator.

2. Grant strangers the ability to surprise you with kindness. Part of the goodwill in men, that God planted in our hearts is to be something to someone we don’t even know. To spread cheer where there are no strings–to do it in anonymity stirs something deep within us all.

3. Accept denial. I’ll never forget after walking 50 + blocks north that fateful day, nearing Harlem, I looked in a beauty shop window and saw a lady getting her nails done. I turned and looked backward, south down Manhattan and saw the two smoke plumes rising above the Financial District, and then looked back to the lady and her nails. Denial is a powerful beast. In chronic illness or in giant tradegy, denial will destroy relationships and put blinders on even the strongest. Expect it, denial will crush a relationship in your valley.

4. Expect human nature to arise. A mere 2 weeks after 9/11, I was in the city basking in the “new NY”. The city where everyone sticks together and makes eye contact and are no longer strangers. Just then a loud horn honking, as a spry NY senior citizen hops out of her car, quickly bangs on my car window to tell me to get a move on around the trash truck and quit holding up traffic – in no uncertain terms. So much for kindness and compassion. During crisis and chronic illness, human nature is to go back to default settings – to find a normal state. If people around you are not suffering, they will try to avert back to “normal” and back to “routine”. 

5. There is strength in numbers. By 4:00 in the afternoon on 9/11, there were 5-7 armed police officers or National Guard in every intersection around the building where we were, in every direction. The jets were circling overhead, the streets were on lock down. When you are troubled and hurting, call in the troups. Call for reinforcements – it helps. Surrounding yourself with people who care and can help raises hope and healing.

6. Equip yourself. On 9/12 when my sister and I drove home to New Jersey across the George Washington Bridge, we had to pass under the cross hairs of two tanks on both sides of the bridge by ourselves. Not another car in sight. Talk about laid bare and vunerable! You might feel alone in this Lyme battle, but you are not. Do the research, find the support group, pray, and find a good doctor. Get prepared and call in the calvary. I was just glad the tanks were on our side – that’s the kind of confidence you need to feel.

7. Some things you just can’t see coming. I don’t know a simplier way to say it. No one was prepared for 9/11 and certainly no one was ready for those towers to come down. Stop trying to figure it out looking backward. Start looking forward and just focus one day at a time. It just happened, Lyme just came out of nowhere and kicked your butt, but tomorrow is a new day.

You will not fear the terror of night nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness; nor the plague that destroys at midday…..For He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways…. I will rescue him; I will protect him for he acknowledges my name. He will call upon me, and I will answer him. I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. (Psalm 91:5, 11, 14, 15)