You know how life sometimes throws you a curveball that makes you stop and think? That happened to me yesterday when my son came home with an assignment from his fifth-grade teacher. It was a simple interview about 9/11 – talk to someone who remembers it.
I’ll be straightforward; the last question hit me hard. It took me a minute to collect myself before answering. (And yeah, I know they say dads don’t cry, at least that’s what we’re told)
The question was, “Who were the heroes that day, and what did they do?”
It got me thinking. I’ve spent much of my life working with first responders and often wondered why I felt so drawn to it. I’m not trained as one; no one in my family has served that way. But it all clicked when my son asked me that question about heroes.
I was thrown back to being 13 years old, sitting in front of the TV with the rest of the world, watching those planes fly into the buildings, seeing them burn and then crumble to the ground. I remember turning to my mom as the first tower fell and asking, “They got everybody out, right?” The pause before her tearful “No, they didn’t” is seared into my memory.
Answering my son’s question about heroes was one of the easiest things I’ve ever done. The heroes are the first responders—the ones who gave their lives that day and the ones who lost their lives years later. They are the men and women who, without a second thought for their own safety, rushed in to save others.
They embodied the verse, “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” (John 15:13). They lived that out in the most authentic way possible – not just for friends, but for total strangers.
I realized that at that moment, watching those heroes in action, I unconsciously committed myself to serving those who serve us. It reminds me of the moment God asks Isaiah, “Whom shall I send?” and Isaiah jumps up, saying, “Here I am! Send me!” My calling wasn’t that dramatic, but it was felt just as real.
That’s why I’ve spent the last ten years of my life as a law enforcement chaplain. It’s why I’m determined to spend more years researching the best ways to help our first responder community. They’re my heroes.
There is a Hebrew word, Zakhor, which means remembrance. The idea is that by actively remembering important events, we shape our present and future. By remembering the heroes of 9/11, we’re not just honoring them – we’re inspiring ourselves and our kids to live up to their example.
So here I am, realizing that a fifth-grade literacy assignment explained my entire life’s work. It’s funny how life works sometimes, isn’t it?
To all the first responders out there—past, present, and future—you’re my heroes. Your courage and sacrifice aren’t forgotten. They wake me up in the morning, ready to serve those who serve us all.
And to everyone else reading this – let’s remember 9/11 not just as a tragedy but as a reminder of the incredible heroism that shines even in the darkest moments. Maybe we can all find a way, big or small, to honor that legacy by looking out for each other and supporting those who risk it all to keep us safe.
Who knows? Maybe your calling is hiding in an unexpected place, too. Keep your eyes open – you never know when a child’s homework might change your life.
Josh Cehulik 