Everyone says 9|11 should be a national holiday, and while I understand the reasoning behind it (we do have a “pearl harbor day” and 9|11 is basically our generation’s version of that), I think we’re missing the boat a little bit. If you want to take a day the etches the 2001 terrorist attacks into stone, don’t pick the day of the attack.

Pick the day after.

Let’s make 9|12 a national holiday. September 12th was the day when everyone woke up to a brand new world and decided we weren’t going to have our old world taken away from us so easily. 9|12 was the day we decided to fight back. I’m not talking about fighter planes, strike teams, or combat infantrymen. I’m talking about the way of life that we have in the United States. For all her faults, Americans at least still retain the freedom to live and work and worship the Lord without, as we say in so many prayers, “the fear of violent persecution.” The attack on September 11th was a reminder that there are many people in the world who hate what they call our “Christian nation.”

Well America is not a Christian nation, the church of Jesus Christ is the only “Christian nation” there is, but I’m a part of that church…and I live here so that makes me a target! 9|12 is the day when those who are being targeted said “you will not shake us or break us.” 9|12 is the day Americans said “I’m going to bring food to my neighbor. I’m going to forgive my rival. I’m going to get involved in my community. I’m going to worship God, even with the fear of violent persecution.”

If you want a day to remember, remember that one. Not the day of the attack but the day of repentance that followed.

Now…did America stick with her penitent spirit? No, and repentance that doesn’t stick leads to death (2 Corinthians 7:10), but at least for a fleeting moment we showed the Devil who sent those planes into those towers that somewhere deep in the recesses of America is a God-fearing heart waiting to be unleashed. 9|12 showed that.

9|12 pulled back the shroud of darkness–even if it was but for a moment–that the Devil had cast over the world, and revealed to every preacher in God’s employ that there are a lot of souls out there still soft enough to be won.

Let’s go win them, and let’s never forget September 12th.