9/11 – A Personal Reflection and Current Conviction
What follows is a deeply personal account of an experience surrounding the events of 9/11 and the attacks on the Twin Towers in New York. I share this with a degree of trepidation and caution, recognising that aspects of my experience raise significant questions about the nature of God-given dreams, supernatural encounters and what some might describe as spirit-travel. It is not my intention here to explore, explain or establish a theological position on any of these subjects. Rather, I simply offer an honest account of what I experienced and understood at the time, in the hope that, whatever conclusions readers may draw, something within this account will bring encouragement and perhaps inspire a deeper awareness of God’s presence and purposes in our lives.
On 11 September 2001, the world watched in shock as a series of coordinated terrorist attacks struck the United States, most visibly the destruction of the Twin Towers of the World Trade Centre in New York. The events of 9/11 claimed thousands of lives and became a defining moment in modern history. Beyond the immediate devastation and grief, the attacks profoundly reshaped global politics, international relations, security and air travel, while contributing to years of conflict and heightened concerns about terrorism. For many, 9/11 marked a moment when the world seemed to change overnight, leaving an enduring impact on nations, communities and an entire generation.
For me personally, it marked a moment in my life that I will never forget. The experience affected me so deeply that, for many days afterwards, I struggled even to find the words to speak about it with my husband. For more than two decades, I have carried much of this experience quietly and privately, and only now on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of that terrible day have I felt able to venture into sharing it with a wider audience.
This Is My Story
I went to bed early on the evening of 11 September 2001, probably around 9.00 p.m. I had not been watching the news, had no contact with any media that evening, and at the time had neither a mobile phone nor access to the internet.
I recall sleeping fitfully and waking at around 6.00 a.m., feeling somewhat shaky and deeply unsettled. I knew I had experienced an unusual and vivid dream during the night, and I was still trying to make sense of it when my husband turned on the television for the morning news.
The first report we saw concerned the attack on the Pentagon. The commentary was sombre and frightening. Then the coverage turned to New York and the attacks on the Twin Towers, showing the scenes of devastation and the collapse of first the South Tower and then the North Tower. It was difficult to comprehend the enormity of what we were seeing. For me, however, there was another dimension to the shock: the images on the television seemed to bring vividly to life elements of what I had experienced during the night.
In my “dream,” I found myself in a concrete stairwell that appeared to be a fire escape. It was dark and filled with smoke and dust. All around me were the terrible sounds of screaming and crashing. People were streaming down the stairs, pushing and jostling one another in their desperation to escape. The sense of panic was palpable.
Yet, inexplicably, I was trying to make my way up the stairway, moving against the flow of people. I soon realised I was not the only one heading upwards. Alongside me were firefighters, dressed in full protective gear and carrying heavy equipment.
I had no understanding of why I was there or what I was supposed to be doing. I simply kept moving upwards until my attention was drawn to a figure crouched in a darkened corner. I pushed my way towards him and discovered a man with what appeared to be a serious head injury. He was bleeding and barely conscious.
What struck me was that no one else seemed to notice him. Everyone was understandably intent on escaping the building as quickly as possible. I went to him, helped him to his feet and began guiding him down the stairs. Somehow, we made our way out of the building.
We were both safe.
And then the dream ended.
It is difficult, even now, to adequately describe what I felt as I sat watching those images on television and began connecting them with the extraordinarily vivid experience I had just had. The similarities seemed too profound for me to dismiss as mere coincidence, yet my mind raced as I tried to understand what, if anything, it meant.
One question in particular overwhelmed me: Had I, in some way I could not begin to understand, just helped to save a man’s life on the other side of the world?
I had no answer then, and I cannot claim to have one now.
What I did have was a profound sense that God had been at work. I was left wondering whether, in some mysterious way beyond my natural understanding, He had allowed me to participate in something taking place thousands of kilometres away.
I am reminded of the Apostle Paul’s account in 2 Corinthians 12:2–3 – “I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven—whether in the body I do not know, or whether out of the body I do not know, God knows. And I know such a man—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows…”
The Apostle Paul questions whether his visionary experience of being caught up to the third heaven happened “in the body or out of the body,” famously stating, “God knows.”
I concur…. God knows.
As I reflect on this experience now, I am left with a growing conviction that the season in which we are living, and the one into which we are moving, may require many of us to make ourselves available to the Lord for purposes that are unusual, unexpected and, at times, beyond our natural understanding.
I believe we are living in days when the distance between Heaven and earth can seem increasingly thin as we draw ever closer to the return of Jesus Christ in all His glory. In such a season, I believe we should remain open to God-given dreams, spiritual encounters, miracles and other supernatural manifestations that may defy our natural understanding. Perhaps we will witness things for which we have no adequate explanation, yet through them God may awaken hearts, reveal His presence and draw many people to Jesus.
For me, then, the question is not whether I can understand or explain everything God may choose to do. The question is much more personal:
Am I willing? Am I available?
Am I prepared to be used by God as He chooses, even if that means being left with questions I cannot answer and experiences I cannot fully explain? Can I remain at peace in the mystery, inwardly assured that nothing is impossible with God, and that His ways and His thoughts are infinitely higher than mine?
I hope that, when that question is asked of me, my answer will be a wholehearted and resounding:
“Yes, Lord. I am available.”
And perhaps, as you read these words, your voice might join mine:
“Yes, Lord. I am available too.”
And never forget – your life and every life is precious to God and He loves and treasures you beyond measure!
With blessing, Sue
