In early August, we had family in town for the weekend. They had never visited the Oklahoma City Memorial and Museum. So on a warm to hot Saturday afternoon we headed to Downtown OKC. My first time through the Museum was shortly after it opened. I had not been back since. The message was just as powerful the second time. In fact, I guess if I went every day it would not lose its impact.

A new exhibit has been added this year. It ties Oklahoma City and New York City together - two unlikely sister cities that in the past had only been linked by the likes of Allie Reynolds, Mickey Mantle and Bobby Mercer. The exhibits told the stories of heroes from New York City who had helped us and lived, to only perish seven years later helping their own. It was incredibly moving.

The first anniversary of 9/11/01 is upon us. USA Today recently ran an article giving the opinions of a number of people concerning 9/11. I found it interesting that many people expressed the sentiment that they were ready for the anniversary to pass and to get on with their lives. I can understand that. We are a nation that has had a history of being resilient. There is always the time to move on. Yet, we must never forget. The two days represented by 4/19/95 and 9/11/01 both graphically show us what the world can be like if given over to those who live without God. The extent of man’s inhumanity to man is incomprehensible and again we must move on.

Scripture time and again gives us the picture of God’s people moving on, but always cognizant of the lessons of the past. What God had done for Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob strengthened the Israelites through adversity after adversity. The early Christians were persecuted in a myriad of ways but they persevered because of Jesus Christ and what HE had done for them. They moved on because they remembered the past.

There will be many ways that we can spend 9/11/02. There is no real “right” or “wrong” way. CNN was in Oklahoma City a few days ago. There were filming footage to be used in an upcoming story that will portray how OKC has recovered from the Murrah Building bombing. It is a story that shows us moving on and being a stronger, more dynamic city because of what we went through and learned. Over the years New York City will do the same.

As a Christian, I still am saddened by both events. As a Christian, I have seen God work incredible miracles in the lives of many who were deeply affected by both events. As a Christian, I am ready to move on and see what God has in store for each of us as we continue to heal. As a Christian, I will never forget either day.