September 11 Bible Reading Plan

“Let’s Roll”

-Todd Beamer

Most of us remember where we were when the plane hit the first tower. I'd just switched on the television to hear the recap of Monday night football when horror struck.

First, one plane, then two. Next, a plane hit the Pentagon.

The world watched as people were trapped inside the burning buildings. No one knew what would happen next. All flights were suspended from taking off, but there were still flights in the air. Would there be more attacks? What would happen next?

What most of us did not know at the time was that there was another hijacked plane in the air filled with passengers. Because their plane took off late, the passengers on Flight 93 knew the fate of the other hijacked planes and decided that together, they would fight back and take control of the aircraft.

The words "Let's Roll" (1) were the final words of Todd Beamer.

They were the words of an unbreakable man who represented the unbreakable spirit of all those on the plane as they attempted to take control of the plane and stop a fourth attack.

While they successfully saved the lives of those who would have been the target of the fourth attack, they lost their own in the process. They died heroes. Men and women who knew the truth of John 15:13,

"Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends." (ESV)

This spirit lived inside the unbreakable men and women who ran toward the buildings that day.

Firefights, police officers, EMS, and emergency workers witnessed the horror of the tragedy and ran to do all they could to help save a life.

This same spirit came alive in the many men and women who joined the armed services to respond to that horrible day. They joined to serve, to fight and defend the nation they loved, and if necessary, to lay down their lives.

This week, we will honor those who demonstrated unbreakable courage in the face of unthinkable hate and tragedy.

We vow that we will never forget.

We will honor them, and we will honor their families.

We will also choose to honor their sacrifice by following President Barack Obama's words: "Even the smallest act of service, the simplest act of kindness, is a way to honor those we lost, a way to reclaim that spirit of unity that followed 9/11." (2)

Each day, we honor the unbreakable sacrifice of those who gave so much when we answer our call to serve, sacrifice, be kind, help a neighbor, or show the love of Christ.

When your community, neighbor, church, or family needs you, will you answer as Todd Beamer did and say, "Yes. I'm there. Let's roll?"

Will you follow the example of those who serve when it's challenging and sacrifice until it hurts? Can those around you depend on you to be unbreakable?

Bibliography:

1. Yuan, Jada . "Let’s Roll." New York Mag, 27 Jul. 2011, nymag.com/news/9-11/10th-anniversary/lets-roll/. Accessed 9 Aug. 2024.

2. "WEEKLY ADDRESS: Observing 9/11 with National Service." The White House President Barack Obama, 27 Jul. 2011, obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2011/08/27/weekly-address-observing-911-national-service. Accessed 9 Aug. 2024.