The following (hand written) article was given to the Editor at a men's prayer breakfast after the attack on NYC and DC. I realized right away that the writer had something to say. This was David L. Mulherin's first article for the Faithweb magazine: M3 Web Ev.

Last Words

by

David L. Mulherin

In light of what has happened Tuesday morning, I feel I just need to share a few thoughts with you this morning. I am so thankful to be here today with my loved ones and friends. I have seen the World Trade Center towers in New York more times than I can even count. Driving down Interstate 78 East in New Jersey there is one spot where you drop off a mountain and right there in your windshield you see those towers before you see anything else and I just can not picture that view without those towers in it. I mean, I have seen that view on TV where those towers are gone but I just can't put that image into my mind. That is what happened in New York and Washington DC.

Right now people are remembering their Fathers, Mothers, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, cousins and friends but they just can't seem to picture that they are gone. There are people searching to find out all the information they can about their lost person. Some say it is just for closure but I wonder how many of them would like to have just one more chance at the last words they spoke to that person or even at the way they reacted to something their loved one had done.

I wonder how many of those who were killed started the day off with angry words to a loved one or friend. Then before this horrible thing happened, they thought at night they would go home and straighten everything out. Just how many of the fathers and mothers had been so busy that they hadn't had time to watch their children play ball or take them swimming or to a park and just listen to what they had to say? Always thinking that they would have tomorrow or next summer.

Well, we don't. We can't even be sure if we have the next second; For no man knows his day or hour.

I want to leave you with a couple of true stories. The first one is about someone I know and this is what happened to him. When he was about sixteen years old he had to learn the hard way just how short life is and how quickly his words could become last words.

He and his father had gotten into a heated argument; the same as many times before but this time it would have a life-long affect upon him. As his parents got into their car to go on a trip this young man stood beside the car and told his dad: "I just wish you were dead!" The car backed out of the driveway and they drove off. Later that day his mother drove back into the driveway and told the family that their father had a heart attack and died.

This young man got his wish. He then did what so many have done; turned to alcohol and drugs and got into a lot of trouble. But he had to learn the hard way that you can't wash away or drown out those last words. He has stopped using drugs and alcohol completely and has learned that he has to live for the rest of his life with the memory of those last words; the words he can never change.

Knowing this man's story has taught me to be careful of what I say but I am human and I do make mistakes. When the Lord shows me the error of my ways I try to correct them as soon as possible. Jesus said we were to love our enemies and when you love someone you hold your tongue in check. The last story is about the Chaplin of the New York City Fire Department and something he told his firefighters for years.

"If you want to make God laugh, tell Him what you're going to do tomorrow."

This gentleman was in one of the buildings that collapsed Tuesday as he was doing his job as Chaplin.

The questiion is, then, are you living your life knowing that the words you speak to someone may be your last? Also, are you doing the job God has called you to do? Heavenly Father, teach us that life is so much more than we think it is and that what we say and do matters much more that we can ever imagine. In Jesus name, amen.

September 16, 2001

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