When the terrorists flew a plane into the World Trade Center that September 11, Genelle Guzman was one of the thousands trying to make it down those long flights of stairs to safety. She made it to the 13th floor when the tower came down. The next thing she knew, she was buried under rubble in a dark and dusty tomb, surrounded by some who had died and unable to move much of her body. She was there for 28 hours. Ultimately, she cried out to God to save her. Not long after that, she heard a noise above her. It was rescuers digging, and then a hand poked through that rubble above her. She grabbed that hand, and the rescuer said, “I’ve got you.” Genelle Guzman was the last person carried out alive at Ground Zero.
On September 11, 2001, Stanley Pramnath was trapped on the 81st floor of Tower 2 at the World Trade Center. The plane that crashed into that building collapsed offices all around him and Stanley ended up trapped under a pile of sheet rock. And he prayed, “Lord, save me. I don’t want to die.” Brian was a broker who was escaping down that long stairway when he heard Stanley’s cries for help. And even though he was battling asthma and dust allergies, Brian stopped and went to work to free Stanley. They both got out alive! Later Stanley said, “I’m alive today because of Brian and the goodness of God.”
You hear the word a lot these days, “He’s being deployed.” The military is sending him to some spot in the world to serve his country. Usually, when U. S. troops get deployed somewhere, it can really change the outcome. Of course, there are some forces ready to be deployed that always change the outcome.
I had to get some vaccinations recently, and it hurt some. But at least I understand that a little pain is better than the big pain of the disease I could get otherwise. But when it’s your baby that’s getting the inoculations, that’s tough. The baby is bawling when he gets the shot and he’s looking at you like, “Don’t you love me, mommy and daddy? Why are you letting this happen to me?” If you tried to explain that you’re putting them through this pain because you love them, they wouldn’t understand anyway, but it is because you love them.
Happy Labor Day! It’s a day most of us celebrate by not laboring. But tomorrow, back to work! Maybe to a job you love or maybe to a job you (you fill in the blank). There is a way you can love your job, no matter what.
