We Must (Still!) Be Bold
by Marilyn Mackenzie

On September 11, 2001, I worked for a local mid-sized newspaper in Texas. At the time, I was the editorial assistant. I was the first one in the newsroom each day.

That day, I was running a bit later than usual in leaving my house. I saw the first plane hit the tower just as I was leaving for work. At the time, I didn't know it was anything except an accident, so I left my son sleeping and went on to work. I did know that this would be big news, even for our local newspaper.

As I arrived at work, I did what I did each morning. I turned on the lights of the newsroom. There were other newspaper employees already in the classified and distribution departments. As I quickly turned on the TV to CNN News and the police scanners to local police channels, those other employees must have seen the difference in my countenance. Perhaps they realized that I had not even dropped off my purse at my desk, nor had I headed for the break room to get that first cup of coffee before turning on the news. As a result, they all came to see what I found so interesting. Then the second plane hit the tower.

Our managing editor usually arrived at work about 10 or 10:30 a.m. That day, he arrived earlier than usual, and asked that I round up every reporter and photographer - even those who were scheduled for the day off. Each one of us were given persons to contact. Ours was a local newspaper, and our focus would continue to be a local one. But the editors and publisher wanted to know how our local businesses and governments were affected by this and how they were responding.

I was asked to contact some local government officials and some bank officials. While they would not disclose any changes or additions to their security procedures (and I'm not sure they HAD any at that time), they were all eager and willing to pray. I prayed with quite a few people over the phone that day.

One reporter behind me was watching this, and after I hung up from my third call that had resulted in praying, he said, "Hey, I'm Catholic. How come no one wants to pray with me?"

I checked in with my son who was at home that day. He was 17, but he was still my first concern. I asked if he wanted to join me at the newspaper or if he wanted me to come home to be with him. He assured me that I was where I needed to be and that he would watch from home.

Prayer vigils were arranged for that night, and although there was no way to get the word out to anyone, people were drawn to churches. Because the editors and publisher knew about my faith, they asked if I might report on one prayer vigil, and I readily agreed.

I arrived at the church just minutes before prayer was scheduled to begin. When I arrived, there were probably 50 people in attendance - some who regularly attended that church, and some who had contacted the newspaper asking if we knew of any prayer vigils scheduled.

The pastor began praying, then urged any who felt led to pray to do so. One after another, most likely even those who might not normally have been comfortable offering pubic prayers, each one prayed aloud for our community, for our country, for the world. We all sat with our eyes tightly closed, so we were not aware that as we prayed more and more people poured into the church. About ninety minutes later when the pastor gave the benediction, I looked around the church and realized that it was packed. I found out that many had just been driving by and saw the cars and were drawn to come and pray.

On the courthouse steps the next day, our county officials prayed with community members. Then on Friday, in our town of 25,000 about 1,000 people showed up to sing patriotic songs and to pray. One businessman had donated flags for everyone to wave, and do you know that there were just enough for every man, woman and child to have one? Another businessman had donated candles so we could sing and pray in the dark as long as we chose by the light of those candles. Again, there were just enough candles for that big crowd. Had God told these men how many flags and candles to provide?

For a short while in the history of our country, tragedy brought us together and we were of one accord.

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A few days later, I wrote these words and presented them to the managing editor. Although he and I differed in our beliefs, the words did appear as a guest column.

We Must Be Bold
by Marilyn Mackenzie
September, 2001

On Tuesday afternoon, I had the opportunity to talk with many people in some business and government offices. All expressed horror, of course, about what had transpired just hours before. But, a more surprising common chord was the desire to talk about God, prayer, matters of faith.

As I thought about these conversations, I was pleased that people within our community were standing proudly, announcing pride in country and the flag, and just as proudly and humbly, a belief in God. Then I thought, "What if we had all been standing proudly for our country and humbly before our God these past 30 years? Would this have happened to us then?" I have to wonder.

I once taught a vacation Bible school class for a group of five year old kids. The experience, the things those children taught me, I speak of often. One little boy made a lasting impression on me when he announced that, "Having Jesus in your heart is like having mayonnaise in your tuna sandwich. Unless the mayonnaise is really mixed into the tuna, the tuna is yucky. And if we don't have Jesus mixed up in our whole life, our life is yucky too." I imagine that was a message this young child had heard in a children's sermon. But, it was a lesson he remembered and was able to pass on - to me, his teacher.

How true that lesson is! And as I sit here thinking about that, I realize that no government can tell me that I can't speak of my love of the Lord Jesus in my work place or in a school environment. Christianity is not just a religion. It's a relationship with God the Father, Jesus the Son and our Comforter, the Holy Spirit. Governments and employers can't tell us with whom we may have relationships. And if they allow others to speak of their best friend, Jim, at the water cooler, then they must allow me to speak of my best friend, Jesus. If others care not to hear the story of Jim once again, they are free to walk away or turn a deaf ear. But, his friends are just as free to talk about him. The same should apply to me and my friend Jesus. If one doesn't care to hear about my friend, let him walk away or turn a deaf ear. But, in this country, I should have the right to speak of my friend everywhere I go!

I know one gentleman who is convinced that if a streetlight turns off as he passes by, it's the UFO's blessing him. As crazy as that sounds to most of us, as a public school substitute teacher he was free to share this belief with the kids in his class. But another Christian friend, who is full of the joy of the Lord, cannot respond truthfully to students when asked, "Why are you always so happy?" Nonsense! Of course she can and must tell students that the reason she's so happy, the reason she can still rejoice even in the midst of tragedy, is that she has a relationship with Jesus and her joy comes from the Lord. With Jesus mixed through and through, as the mayonnaise in a tuna sandwich, Christ is part of her very being. No one can ask her to leave a part of her personality, her very being, at home while she works.

When we are in love with a person, we talk about them. We proudly show the engagement ring we just received. Why don't we all proclaim proudly that we love the Lord? Because someone told us we couldn't? Why have we allowed ourselves to be silenced?

If asked what is your favorite book, one proudly should admit that the Holy Bible is your favorite book. Whether a teacher or government official or business leader, if asked, we must be able to answer honestly. No one can make us lie or pretend that another book is our favorite.

You might wonder what all of this has to do with the tragedies of this week. I believe they are related. I believe that the world has watched our inner turmoil. I believe the world has watched the "civil war" we've raged for years about whether or not we are free to be Christians anywhere we go, or whether we're only free to be who we are while with others of like mind or when we're at home or in church. The world has watched as Christians have become closet Christians, attending church and leaving the armor of God at the church steps. The government and people whose opinions differ from ours have forced us into silence. I believe the world has watched what was once such a strong, proud, patriotic, and God-fearing country become weakened by these struggles about matters of faith.

Throughout the country, people are being brought to their knees. They are, now, boldly talking about God in their offices, are praying with co-workers and fellow students. Let us continue to be bold!

People are being urged to fly the flag proudly in their homes, offices, even in their cars. Fantastic. Let's show the world we're united and stand behind our President.

Let's do more, though, folks. Let's take our Bibles to work as well. Put one on your desk or in your bookshelf at the office, and read it and pray on your coffee breaks. Have Bible study or prayer meetings at the workplace. Post the Ten Commandments on your wall.

Let's be bold, as our forefathers were, for the Lord!

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Today is September 11, 2007. I think we must find that common thread that joined us six years ago. We must, if we expect our country to survive.

About the Author

Marilyn Mackenzie has been writing about home, family, faith and nature for over 40 years. She is an author on http://www.Writing.Com which is a site for Creative Writers. Her portfolio can be found at http://kenzie.writing.com. Her blog: http://www.Writing.Com/authors/kenzie/blog.