Friday; September 9

September 9, 2001 was probably just another lazy late-summer Sunday for most of us. As a School Resource Officer in Pierre, South Dakota I was preparing for the calm before the storm. Not only was it Homecoming Week for T. F. Riggs High School, but the next Saturday was also the dedication of the new World War II monument which would bring thousands of visitors to town (and a lot of overtime and extra duty). I knew it was going to be long week, so it wouldn’t surprise me if I was a bit laid back. However, within forty-eight hours our world would be rocked and our nation turned upside-down. What started out as a memorable week ended in an unforgettable tragedy.

The attacks on the United States on September 11, 2001 provide us with a lot of food for thought, but one of the most salient is the uncertainty of life. We can do all the planning we want, but we must accept the fact that we aren’t always in control of tomorrow. I realize that this reality surrounds us each and every day, but often it takes an event the magnitude of drive the point home to us. Sure, we should plan; but we need to understand that our plans are tentative at best.

What do you need to do before you die … or before the next cataclysmic event happens? We have not been guaranteed a tomorrow, so let’s take care of it today!

Think About It!

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