It is time that we remember again, the day that changed the life of our nation, 9/11/2001. I’m sure you remember, as I do, where you were and what you were thinking on that day. We had no way of knowing the magnitude of the events of that day. After all these years, there are things that still bring that horrific day back to the forefront of our minds.

I had one of those experiences earlier this year that I would like to share with you. In April, I attended the Southern Kentucky Book Fest in Bowling Green, Kentucky. One of the speakers was Michael Hingson. Mr. Hingson was at work in his office on the 78th floor of tower one on 9/11.

As he and the others in his office realized that they were in an emergency situation, they left their office to evacuate the building by way of 78 flights of stairs consisting of 1,463 steps. As daunting as that sounds for anyone, Mr. Hingson would face this feat blind, with the help of his golden lab guide dog, Roselle.

In his book, Thunder Dog, Hingson recounts how he and Roselle made their way out without panic by being a team with a calm assurance from God. The book, which I highly recommend, tells the amazing story of courage of this man and his companion and how they remained composed for each other.

The book is not only the story of that one day in the history of this man and his guide dog. It also takes you through his before story of being blind since birth, how he dealt with his blindness and much of his life until this day. Thankfully for Mr. Hingson, this book is also his after 9/11 story, something that so many that were lost in the towers on that day didn’t have.

As I sat and listened to this remarkable man speak from personal experience, about his life and that of his beautiful Roselle, I realized that he had chosen to focus on the positive. He never minimized how awful that day was, but his speech and his book are about putting one foot in front of the other. In his own words, “Out of the ashes and rubble of 9/11 we can create building blocks for the future. Don’t let your sight get in the way of your vision.”

I choose to commemorate 9/11 this year, by remembering the courageous people and of course Roselle that worked as a team and walked out of the rubble. I offer prayers for the families of those we lost and for the heroes that responded to the call that day. I also choose to believe that we still live in the greatest nation on earth and continue to ask God to heal our hearts and our land.

“If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14) (NIV)