Today I watched, or more truthfully, I listened to the talk that Billy Graham gave just three days after 911 happened. It was in the service in Washington, which America have been called to prayer by the serving president, George Bush.
His words reminded me of how people had responded to the tragedy back in that day.
People were going to church, to pray, and to look for comfort. People were asking real legitimate questions.
(I have friends who worked in those buildings on that day, but the tragedy made them think twice about how they were living their lives. One friend of mine redirected her life completely, and is now involved in good ministry.)
The church attendance was noticeably up, and I remember that many of us as pastors were asking "Is this the turnaround that the world needed?"
We were deeply saddened, but it was a flicker of hope there, people returning back to God. At least for a time.
Billy's words reminded me of the feelings of that season of my life. Hopeful that God would be able to get through to peoples hearts. That people might actually finally be open to listening.
While it may have affected some people, certainly those with friends and family involved. Yet the rest of the world seemed to move on. And the attendance blip in our churches went back to a flat line again.
I honestly don't know what it takes to get through to this world these days.
But some days I do fear that we are going to find out.
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