A Story of 9/11 by a Friend from Libya

Last updated on: September 22, 2016 at 7:45 am by John Mark N. Reynolds

A Story of 9/11 by a Friend from Libya 2016-09-21T14:29:28-04:00 John Mark N. Reynolds

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Santa_maria_antiqua,_roma,_crocefissione,_effresco,_741-752_opt I did not write today’s piece. It was given to me by a friend from Libya. The opinions are his, unfiltered, and not (necessarily) my own. Here is an insight into both the world outside of the United States and what God is doing in the world:

As 9/11 this year coincides with the Great Islamic Feast and is followed by the Orthodox Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross I wanted to share one of the most impactful events in my life that through 9/11 led me from Islam to the Precious and Life-Giving Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.

I had just turned 14 years old over the summer enjoying my last days of summer vacation before going back to school and beginning my O Levels. On that day my parents were out of town for a funeral of a distant relative. My mother’s sister was babysitting. My 11 year old brother was sick with the flu and my 2 year old baby brother was playing in his room. My aunt was in the kitchen making chicken soup. Our house was big, on the Mediterranean coast of Tripoli, and each of us had his own section of the house to themselves. It was a sunny afternoon but I chose to watch a Jean-Claude Van Damme movie on Abu Dhabi TV instead before I headed out in the evening for Tennis practice at the Club down the street.

During the movie the station put a small side screen showing the North Tower with smoke coming out of it. I recognized the World Trade Center from the movie Home Alone 2 where Kevin is at the top of the Tower looking over the city in his adventure in New York with the song “All Alone on Christmas” playing in the background.

I quickly switched channels to CNN International. A plane had crashed into the World Trade Center. I was very surprised. My Father is a pilot and I spent a lot of time around aeroplanes. This must have been a big plane. And I asked myself, how can a pilot not even try to miss this really big building, but instead smash straight into it. I ran to my aunt in the kitchen and told her the news. She said with a sad tone, “Oh those poor people.” But I was feeling excited and wanted to know more about what was happening and ran back to the TV.

Then as the reporters were talking, I see the second tower get hit by a plane. I jumped up and ran back to my Aunt, “The second tower got hit!” and ran again back to the TV.

Things were getting interesting! There were reports of other planes and then the Pentagon was hit! And I knew it, America was under attack. Yes! The Pentagon definitely deserves to be blown up!

Finally, America is getting a taste of its own medicine. They attacked us in 1986, killing innocent civilians in Tripoli plus all the arabs that have died from American bombs and missiles over my lifetime. I went to my Aunt excitedly and told her America is under attack, someone is finally getting back at them.

The reports of a 4th plane coming in and I started guessing where would the 4th plane hit, what would be the strongest blow? The White House? Capitol Hill? I wanted my parents to be around, I wanted to see their reaction!

Then the towers fell, Al-Qaeda and Osama Bin Laden were held responsible. Who is Osama Bin Laden? People in Gaza were celebrating in the streets!

But then the detailed footage started coming in, of people jumping out of the buildings, the towers falling into the streets, people running and screaming for their lives. President Bush speaking from a bunker with fuzzy signal. It suddenly struck me. America is going to go to war. And the world will never be the same again, and neither would be mine.

That day was a turning point in my life (more than I realized at the time). In my naive, ignorant and childish thinking I rejoiced when the attacks happened. But after it all sunk in, I knew my world had changed. That day was a turning point in history. And Since 9/11 my curiosity to seek truth and understand what goes on in this world of ours began. Since 9/11, not one day had passed without me checking the news. Since 9/11, I went from a Libyan kid happy to see revenge being taken on my people’s enemy to coming to this said country in refuge from my people. I now stand in America, praying for the lives of souls lost that day. And I am now estranged and hated by my 14 year old self.

9/11 was the first paradigm shift of my journey that shook the foundations of my soul. There would be in the future two more shifts to complete the work of destroying the barriers that separated me from Christ Jesus. I confess my sins as a child to all here and pray for forgiveness for the hate that I carried. And I thank God who humbles the proud. He is indeed an awesome God, who wishes every soul to be healed. And nothing is impossible.

Lord Jesus Christ, son of God have mercy on us.

Culture

Spiritual Reflections

Previous Post

September 21, 2016

Passion and Liberty!

Next Post

September 23, 2016 Screen Time: Too Much is Too Much

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Apologetics Art Culture Education On Books On Education Philosophy Politics Pop Culture Spiritual Reflections Uncategorized

Select a Month October 2026 September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 July 2025 June 2025 September 2024 July 2024 June 2024 December 2023 June 2023 September 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Who prophesied the fall of Babylon?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Ezekiel Isaiah Jeremiah Daniel

Books by This Author John Mark Reynolds

See All Titles »