Break Bad Habits
Build Better Ones
Become Better Men
- Nate Whitson -
Do you remember where you were on this date in 2001?
I remember it like it was yesterday.
In fact, I'll never forget it.
I was living in Virginia at the time and was living with a buddy of mine who worked at Liberty University.
Each morning, I was doing a verse-by-verse study of the book of Romans and had a solid quiet-time routine going for me. That morning was no different, and I didn't know that the world had been shaken until hours later.
Sometime later that morning - maybe around 9:00am - I got in my car and headed into Lynchburg to see my friend and hang out in the athletic training center where he worked.
When I got into the training facility, I knew immediately that something was up. The entire staff that worked with my friend was standing around a television watching the scenes unfold.
It was truly a day unlike any other I had ever experienced.
Our country had just been attacked by terrorists, and the feeling of safety and "that'll never happen here" was quickly replaced by pure dread.
The fear was palpable.
The worry was real.
The questions were immense.
All we could think was: What's happening and what's going to happen next?
As I reflect on those days, it reminds me of this verse that I've adopted as the cornerstone passage of our Fight Club for Christian men.
"Be alert. Stand firm in the faith. Act like men. Be strong."
Our world had been shaken and turned upside down.
We quickly realized that we'd put our guard down and not been alert to the very real threats that surrounded us.
We'd lost our footing and the consequences of it were visible on live television for the world to see.
The only response that was appropriate was to call men to rise up to the moment and...
"Be alert. Stand firm in the faith. Act like men. Be strong."
24 years later that same response is still necessary.
How quickly we forget.
How quickly we lose focus.
How quickly we fall away.
On this day, I'm reminded to be vigilant. Not so much against terrorism (although that is true), but against the terroristic attempts to make me lose my focus on what matters most to God.
I'm reminded that it's men who run into the fires and buildings that are falling down.
I'm reminded that it's men who defend the weaker and vulnerable and carry them to safety.
I'm reminded that you can never forget that there is a real enemy who hates everything about you and all that you stand for.
I'm reminded today that it's not a game, and what was needed then is what's so desperately needed now from you and me:
"Be alert. Stand firm in the faith. Act like men. Be strong."
May we never forget.
Nate
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P.S.
Where were you when the world fell down on 9/11/2001?
I'd love to hear your story.
Please hit "reply" and share it with me.
