Death in the Clouds

“Pray with me, Lisa.�

They prayed together.

“The Lord is my Shepherd…�

“…I shall not want.�

“He maketh me to lie down in green pastures…�

“…He leadeth me beside the still waters.�

“He restoreth my soul…�

“…He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name’sake�

“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death…�

“…I will fear no evil: For thou art with me�

“Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me…�

“…Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies�

“Thou annointest my head with oil…�

“…My cup runneth over.�

“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life…�

“…and I will dwell in the House of the Lord…�

“…forever.�

A single teardrop fell.

“Promise you would call my family. And give my love to David and Drew.�

As he placed the phone down, the connection still open, he looked at the other people in the group.

It was a motley group – individuals of all ages, both sexes, and in various states of health. They were people of different occupations, faiths, lives and lifestyles, different virtues and different faults – some shy, some brash, most just run-of-the-mill – aware for less than thirty minutes of the cruel twist of fate that had unfolded upon them – that sudden encounter at that ultimate turn – the unsought, unwanted and unexpected exit sign pointing off the busy highway that’s life – with no time to prepare.

“Are you guys ready? Let’s roll!�

And roll they did.

For the very ordinary citizens of a very special country, the call was sudden, the act was ex-tempore, and yet it was absolutely a class act – and that was no accident!

It was a small wave of humanity that rolled together. It looked straight into the face of the grim reaper – whose scythe of death now raced through those clouds – and refused to flinch. It rolled to its guaranteed fatal destiny – the same destiny that must overtake us all some day – yet it left lessons for those who are the dead in the brain because they never learnt to use it – and it left lessons for those who are the dead at heart because they have lost it – and it left lessons for the many who are the perpetual dead for they dare no attempts because the odds are against them!

It was a small wave that was to turn the tide and pave the way for a brand new course and the ocean that was to follow.

For the last line of defense is never the thin blue line or the thin khaki line – it’s that thin red line which is drawn with the blood of very ordinary citizens!

And some red lines shall forever hold – because that’s the way they are – because that’s the way the Artist chose to draw them!

(“We are sure that the nation owes a debt to the passengers of United 93. Their actions saved the lives of countless others…� The 9/11 Commission Report)