This Saturday is the 20th anniversary of 9/11/01.

Do you remember where you were that day?

I was 44, serving as the Minister of Music at Lexington Baptist Church.

I was pulling into the church parking lot when WVOC’s morning show re ported that an airplane had flown into the World Trade Center in NY.

In my mind, I envisioned a small Cessna plane accidentally hitting the skyscraper.

I thought little else about it until the office started buzzing with the news.

That Tuesday was the second day on the job for my new admin assistant, the late Cindy Candler.

As I saw the video of the North Tower falling, I remember that I really couldn’t process what I was seeing.

I was trying to train Cindy on the music library PC software, and we were both trying to just carry on with our work.

Then I noticed tears coming down Cindy’s face, and she just said, “All those people.”

After seeing the horrific pictures of people falling to their deaths, I have always felt like I can’t empathize and hurt enough for all those who were so unjustly murdered.

I try to imagine being one of the people who went to work as usual on the 105th floor of the World Trade Center:

Suddenly a jar ring blow shakes the building.

To imagine myself leaping out of that building to escape the flames is just impossible.

I had been in the North Tower several times.

I took pictures of the city from the observation deck on the 107th floor.

20 years later, I think I have a larger worldview.

I can pray for others more now than I could then.

The majority of those who died on 9/11 were in their late thirties.

At 64, I have lived 25 more years than the age of most who died that day.

I have a greater desire now to help others prepare to face death when their time comes.

Are you ready?

Next Week: Protecting your space