Faith is indeed a choice. I understand what it means to tragically lose someone you love in just a few breaths. To experience the permanent taking away of another human being you adored with your soul in a matter of seconds. After the September 11, 2001 attack, my life instantly became a devastating, heart exploding blur. I did all I could to spiritually and physically cope with the indescribable and profound loss of my younger brother James taken from our family that day. Only 26, James was a young apprentice just two weeks into his training as an IBEW Local Union electrician. I was the only person on the outside world able to speak with him just after the planes hit the South Tower. Through God’s grace, we were brought together to speak by phone three times. James and so many others were trapped on the 105th floor…
Several weeks after the 9/11 attack, my brother John took me down to the family viewing area at Ground Zero. John works with the Local Union and had been searching for our younger brother James nonstop. As we worked our way deeper into the site, I was completely gripped by the incredible mass of destruction all around me. Dust covered recovery workers were fiercely digging and searching for loved ones. We moved slowly and very carefully. Upon entering the safe viewing area built for family members, the ash covered eyes of a recovery worker looked up momentarily and met mine. Not a word was uttered. We spoke through our tears and brokenness. Standing in rows, workers moved whatever debris they could, hoping to find people alive. Among the thousands missing was our own brother James. He was 26 years old and had just started working for the Local Union…
