Each one of us can think back to those times when we encountered history. At that instant we were a part of the story, not just watching or listening to someone else report it. In our own unique ways we were there.

“A plane just slammed into the World Trade Center!”

When Melissa Mann, Union’s art director, came into my office with that announcement, a moment in our history became a part of my life. A few minutes later I listened along with the rest of our university body to our campus minister Todd Brady as he began to sort out what was happening. He spoke from his heart. In a spontaneous, quiet, yet powerful way, he reminded us of God’s presence in our lives.

Only minutes after leaving the chapel I was called by Baptist Press about a possible coverage of those first days surrounding the tragedy. Long before daylight the next morning I was in a van headed for New York City.

I made the trip with two Nashvillians, Morris Abernathy from LifeWay, and Todd Starnes of Baptist Press. Todd worked as the writer as Morris and I provided the visuals. The days were long, but working with friends provided a very needed balance. Even in the midst of all the horror, we still found an occasional reason to laugh.

This is being written on Tuesday, September 18, exactly a week after the event. Since departing the university for New York right up until now, I have not seen even one minute of television. My life has been on deadline for a week. I’ve listened to the radio and looked through a few newspapers, but most of my visual memories have come from what I’ve seen. It must have been horrific to actually see the building collapse as many of you did, and even worse to witness several fatal decisions to leap from the World Trade Center.

You saw these things actually happen.

Standing at the entrance of the temporary morgue, located only yards from the mountain of twisted concrete and steel, I too experienced things that will be hard to forget. I saw expressionless faces, tear-filled eyes and long hugs of encouragement. I witnessed unwavering determination, incredible courage and constant displays of compassion. I saw men and women, young and old, a rainbow of nationalities and backgrounds all working together.

One evening I was standing in a very long line of writers, photographers, and every other media type you can imagine. We were all waiting for the latest credential required to work near the site of the World Trade Center. In front of me were about a dozen members of the press from Japan. Beside me were those from Belgium and Norway. Right behind me were the French. There were hundreds of media representatives all waiting together. As we began to talk I realized that they were not there to cover just another international story. They all had countrymen in those buildings. The story was personal to them too.

For most who work in the news, stories come and go as quickly as the next deadline. Once in a while one comes along that may extend for a few days. And then there are stories like this. These are the ones that rock our world and change all of our lives. They bring us together and present us with a picture of ourselves.

In a conversation with a student from Stuyvesant High School, which is located only a block and half from ground zero, Freeman Fields, mentioned a verse of scripture. He said it had helped him as he attempted to comfort thirteen members of his football team who gathered at his tiny apartment just minutes after the attack. The verses are found in Psalm 46:1-3. “God is our refuge and strength, an everpresent help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.”

Later tonight I will probably turn on the television and see some of the things you saw a week ago. I’m sure it will send me back to where I’ve been. I will see again things that had been in front of my camera, and see more clearly a picture of the person behind it.

Jim Veneman is the Director of Visual Communications at Union and a former photojournalist with LifeWay Christian Resources for 15 years. He has covered worldwide events for a variety of press and publications, including Baptist Press.