Renewed Purpose
"But
you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a
holy nation, God's very own possession. As a result, you can show others the
goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful
light."1
On
September 11, Lt. Col. Brian Birdwell (from U.S. Army Headquarters) had just
stepped into a Pentagon hallway when the fireball from the hijacked plane hit
him. After recovering from the initial shock, Birdwell realized he was on fire.
"Jesus, I'm coming to see you," he remembers praying. When doctors
finally attended to him at the Washington Burn Center, they found second- and
third-degree burns over 40 percent of Birdwell's body. To save him, they
performed several skin graft operations. President George W. and First Lady
Laura Bush visited the Washington Burn Center on September 13. Among those they
visited was Birdwell. Laura Bush went into Brian's room and spoke to him for
about a minute, all the time as if they were life-long acquaintances. She then turned
to Brian's wife, Mel, who had been at the hospital for about two-and-a-half
days. She was dirty, grimy, and wore a bloodstained shirt. Despite this, Laura
hugged her for what Mel said seemed like an eternity, just as if Mel was one of
her closest family members. Laura then told Brian and Mel that there was
"someone" there to see him. The President walked in. Standing by
Brian's bedside, the President told Colonel Birdwell that he was very proud of
them both and regarded them as heroes. The President then saluted Brian. Brian
slowly began to return the salute, taking about 15 to 20 seconds to get his
hand up to his head because of his bandaged arms. During all of this, President
Bush never moved. He dropped his salute only when Brian was finished with his.
Birdwell lives now with renewed purpose. "I'm a walking miracle. Christ
got me out of the fire. In him not taking me, that means I have a mission to
complete. He'll tell me what it is in due time."2
As we
remember the life-changing events that happened on September 11th
this weekend, and as we look around at all the loss and pain our nation is
currently going through as well, let us find ways to focus on the goodness of
God. Many times, it is hard to do as we grieve, but even in those moments, God
is there, and he is still good. His love for us does not end and we can be his
light to this hurting world through the ways we live out His goodness to others.
We may not know what he is calling us to do at the moment, but we can have a
renewed purpose and sense of hope in Christ.
Suggested
prayer: Dear God, thank you that in the midst of painful situations or life-changing
events, you still have a purpose for me, and your purpose is always good. Allow
me to focus on your goodness, grace, and the hope you bring, then share these
things with others as well. Help me be a presence of peace wherever I go. Thank
you for hearing and answering my prayer. In Jesus' name, amen."
1 Peter 2:9 (NLT).
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