Matthew 22:37-40
Jesus said, “‘Love the Lord your God
with all your passion and prayer and intelligence.’ This is the most
important, the first on any list. But there is a second to set alongside
it: ‘Love others as well as you love yourself.’ These two commands are
pegs; everything in God’s Law and the Prophets hangs from them.”
Scripture
quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002
by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs,
CO. All rights reserved.
Today,
the National September 11 Memorial Museum was dedicated at Ground Zero
in New York City. I sat down with Greg to watch the televised ceremony,
and it wasn’t long before tears filled my eyes as the stories of that
horrific day began to unfold. In particular, the account of 24-year-old
Welles Remy Crowther touched me deeply. Dubbed “the man in the red
bandana,” Crowther’s story of heroism was shared by President Obama in
his remarks to the attendees. He told how Welles, a former volunteer
fireman who worked in finance in the south tower, covered his face with a
red handkerchief/bandana and guided more than a dozen people to safety
before he perished. Crowther’s body was found some six months later in
the South Tower Lobby, alongside the bodies of firefighters and
emergency workers.
Many of those Welles Crowther rescued knew him
only as “the man with the red bandana”, but as his story was shared,
Allison Crowther realized that this was her son. Welles had carried a
red bandana with him ever since he was a young boy. She knew that this
hero who showed such courage, love and compassion was her Welles. A red
bandana is displayed in the “9/11 Museum” to remind others of Welles
Crowther’s heroism.
Today, Allison Crowther spoke to the crowd in
attendance at the memorial, along with Ling Young, one of the women who
Welles rescued. In her brief remarks, Crowther noted…”This is life's
most precious meaning. It is our greatest hope that when people come
here and see Welles' red bandanna, they will remember how people helped
each other that day, and we hope they will be inspired to do the same in
ways both big and small.”
I don’t know much else about Welles
Crowther. Aside from a mention on a Wikipedia* page that Welles’
penchant for handkerchiefs came from observing his father, Jefferson,
dress for church, we really don’t have a clue about the Crowthers and
their faith. But I have to believe that somewhere along the way, they
found God…that He strengthened them and guided them through this
horrific day and the ones to follow…that they embraced the teachings of
Jesus and truly internalized His commands to love God AND to love
others. And I believe that Allison and Jefferson Crowther instilled
these teachings in their precious son, Welles.
Some will say,
“People are innately good. It would be human nature for many of them to
have done what this young man did, regardless of whether they knew God
or not.” Maybe so. But a whole lot of people would also have rushed to
save themselves and adopted the “every man for himself” mentality. The
point I wish to emphasize is contained in Allison Crowther’s statement
that we will remember how people rushed to help each other that day,
and…”we hope they will be inspired to do the same in ways both big and small.”
God
will not call all of us to save people from a crumbling, burning
building. He will not make us heroes…at least not to this magnitude.
Few if any of us will not be immortalized for our acts of love and
compassion…or have a lasting tribute created on Wikipedia or in a
national museum. But our acts of love and care for others…our
demonstration of our devotion to God… are no less significant. Their
impact is just as powerful and lasting. And the “recognition” we are
afforded in the form of eternity at the feet of Almighty God will be the
ultimate reward.
Those of us who have truly found God and keep
His Holy Spirit in our hearts have the capacity to be “heroes” for Jesus
in ways great and small each and every day…to demonstrate the powerful
presence of His love, grace, mercy, compassion, healing and
forgiveness. We can be the face of God to others. This is our
privilege…and our purpose.
I am humbled today by the stories that
were shared at the dedication of the National September 11 Memorial
Museum. I am reminded of the tremendous sacrifices and sufferings of
that day…the tests of faith that are beyond what I can comprehend. But I
am also reminded of the power of God’s love for His children…and the
effectiveness of believers who share that love with one another. I am
challenged to harness God’s gifts of strength, power, love and courage
in my own situations and circumstances…I am determined to trust Him and
walk in His love and care more surely each day.
I am encouraged
to know that in ways great and small, I can be one of God’s servants…a
“rescuer” of sorts who faithfully “dons a red bandana” and rushes in to
help others Jesus’ name. What about you? Will you join me in the
mission? Will you answer Jesus’ call to love others as you love
yourself…and God? Isn’t it time we focused more on service to Him and
less on service of self? Is this the day that you will pry your “red
bandana” of God’s love and care from your pocket and put it on as you
serve others in Jesus’ name? Don’t you think you should?
©2014 Debbie Robus
*http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Welles_Crowther
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