I went to church with my mom, she holding on to me, not letting her grip go. The church was packed. I thought I would feel some relief, gain some kind of strength or grace. All I felt was empty. I didn't feel God there. For the first time in my life, it surprised me. As I looked around, I couldn't help but think I was merely surrounded by a bunch of scared people who only came to church to gain some brownie points with God. It was a beautiful day and normally the church isn't even half-filled. It was full of strangers. It made me angry. Where were these people before the WTC tragedy happened? Where was their public profession of faith then? ________________________________ Why is it we only turn to God in times of tragedy or when we need something?  Why aren't we praising God more, just because it's Monday?  Why does it take something big in order to pack the churches?  We are SO hypocrtical. ________________________________ I went to church the Sunday after the WTC bombings. There were so many people there, many I had never seen before. It was like there was this need to be with others, to know that they were not alone in their fear or that, by being together, we could maybe make sense of it all. It made me feel better, like there was some hope for the future. _________________________________ return to homepage