I was a pastor in Salem, Indiana. I had run out that morning to drop off my registration materials for a community leadership training program and heard the news on the radio. When I got back to the office, Kent the church secretary and Sharon the minister of music had already heard the news. I called Connie, who had been rocking and feeding Rebecca when the news came on the TV. (On November 22, 1963, my mom was rocking and feeding me when she heard her generation’s world-shaking news.)
My parents were in Washington DC that week for a conference. I later learned (after waiting what seemed like forever to get through on the overburdened phone lines) that they could see the smoke rising from the Pentagon from their hotel room.
Wednesday evening we had a special prayer service. A lady called earlier that day to ask if it were alright if she and her family came even though they weren’t members of our church. “I’ve never prayed before,” she said.
Where were you?
Leaving my dorm room, looking over my shoulder and talking to my roommate. I was headed to Freshman level College Algebra. I went to class because I thought that it was probably an accidental tragedy. Class was let out early. I spent most of the rest of the day in my dorm room with my roommate staring at the TV and being amazed.
Later, the choir (that I had just joined) gathered at the Campus-wide service to sing Lutkin’s “The Lord Bless and Keep You.” My freshman choir friends and I learned it that afternoon before the service.
Teaching a course on the Historical Jesus at the local community college. Driving home afterwards, when I turned on the radio, I learned the grim details and then stayed glued to the tv the rest of the day- till 7 that night, when we had a community wide prayer vigil. I remember it like it just happened.
Teaching children English and History. I remember the oddly detached way I went through the motions of the day without mentioning anything to the students (the principal decided it would be better to let parents tell their children what had happened). I was repeatedly shocked at the huge disconnect between my emotions and the joyful oblivion of the kids as they laughed and played and went through what, to them, was a normal Thursday. I again feel that sense of Heideggerian “thrown-ness” today.
I was unaware for several hours. And then…almost could not absorb that this horror was unfolding as I, blissfully unaware, worked on a project.
I wrote a bit about it over at my place.
Sitting right here at my desk, telecommuting just like any other day … and the phone rang, had I checked the news yet this morning? I hadn’t …
I was shocked. I think most of us understood instinctively that “Everything’s going to change now, isnt’ it?” It just took awhile to wrap my mind around it.
Take care & God bless
Anne / WF
Odd that this would be the link I would follow from your FaceBook page. LMBO!
As God is my witness, I was in the bathroom. (Embarrassing but true. *shaking head*) I have to admit, because my very soon to be 18 year-old daughter would out me on this one.