‘Gary, is that you?’ I asked. There he stood holding the huge processional cross at my church, the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in NYC. I couldn’t believe my eyes; I hadn’t seen Gary for almost 10 years. We laughed, got teary eyed, hugged each other around the long staff of the cross, and processed down the aisle.

I first met Gary shortly after the tragedy of 9/11. He was a member of the congregation that worshipped at the Cathedral. As we got to know each other, he told me his story. I want to share his story of hope with you over the next three weeks.

During the first week of September, while on vacation with his family in Ohio, Gary broke out with a bad case of shingles. The doctor told him he’d likely have them for at least six to eight weeks and offered to prescribe painkillers. But Gary refused to take them. As a recovering alcoholic and drug addict, he wasn’t willing to take any chances. At a party with other AA (Alcoholics Anonymous) members in Ohio, Gary celebrated his three-year anniversary of being clean and sober. He was given a three-year sobriety coin. Then on September 10, Gary returned to New York City – a day earlier than scheduled. He wasn’t quite sure why he felt compelled to return that day.

On the morning of September 11, although tired, Gary went back to work. He took the subway to the World Trade Center, had his traditional oatmeal breakfast in the South Tower at 8:30, and talked with friends who worked in the Towers. Around 8:45, he called his mother in Ohio to tell her he was back in the City. She asked him: “Gary, are you on your way to work? Your shingles aren’t well enough. Go home. You’re on vacation.” They laughed, and Gary went down the escalator to the PATH train for the ride under the Hudson River to his office, which had moved out of the South Tower to Jersey City.

By the time Gary arrived at his office, the first tower had been hit. The staff stood and watched in horror as the second tower was struck. Soon they were told to go home. As he tried to decide how to get back to Manhattan, the first building collapsed. It had been only a few minutes earlier that he had been there eating his oatmeal with his friends.

The only thing Gary could think of doing was to pray the AA prayer he said almost every day: ‘God, I offer myself to Thee – To do with me as Thou wilt.’ He began to walk, thinking: ‘If God wants to use me I’ll walk into an opportunity of service.’ By 10:30 he found himself in Hoboken about the same time that a Triage was being established by emergency workers, Red Cross volunteers, police, and health workers. He was one of the first civilian volunteers to arrive at the site. Although he felt scared and in pain from the shingles, he wanted to do whatever he could.

(For the next two weeks I’ll continue with Gary’s story of hope and service.)

God of hope, we need to learn how to offer ourselves to you, so that you can do with us as you will. Yet, we are stubborn, full of our own wishes to do our own will, not yours. We ask for your understanding, patience, and forgiveness. We ask that you show us how to be of service to others. Amen.

Joy Carol
www.joycarol.com