Rewriting The End

On September 11th, 2001 I was getting ready for work. I don't ordinarily have the TV on while getting ready but for some reason that morning I did. I turned on the news to find the north tower in flames and then I saw it--an image that will forever be etched in my mind. United Airlines Flight 175 came barreling in to the frame and collided with the south tower. In an instant I saw the final moments of 65 souls and countless others that were inside the building. Those inside the south tower were likely confused, scared, and wondering what to do, completely unaware that The End was hurdling at them at hundreds of miles per hour. In an instant everything changed.

I fell to my knees in disbelief. I couldn't stand. I couldn't believe what I'd just seen. Too weak to stand, too weak to leave for work on time. It really took a lot out of me.


The morning of March 11th, 2011 I woke up and grabbed my phone to discover dozens of text messages, missed calls and emails.

Is Hiroko's family ok?
Chad, did you hear about the earthquake? Is your family doing alright?

While we were sleeping at 1:46am the largest earthquake ever recorded hit Japan. Amidst the dozens of messages of people reaching out to us one was an email from Hiroko's father. "We're alright," he said. My in-laws were all safe and accounted for. We both got out of bed to turn on the television and what we saw caused us to be too weak to stand. We fell to our knees. We couldn't believe what we were seeing.

Tears streamed down our faces as we saw wave after wave pummel the eastern seaboard of Japan. 30 foot waves washing away everything in their path. Entire houses floating away. We saw The End of thousands of people. Who knew how many people were in those cars, in those houses. They were likely confused, scared, and wondering what to do, completely unaware that The End was hurdling at them. In an instant everything changed.

A month later we were in Japan. While not on the front lines of the rebuilding efforts, we still were able to meet and talk with many Japanese people. I was told something that stuck out to me.

In America, you have 9-11. In Japan, we now have 3-11.

We go to Japan hopeful and expectant. As the nation continues three years later to come to grips and rebuild with the tragedies that occurred, 99% of the population have never heard the gospel of Christ,. People remain scared, confused, and wondering what to do. Completely unaware that The End is coming for all of us. Perhaps at a speed with which we don't realize. 

"and thus I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, lest I build on someone else's foundation, but as it is written,

“Those who have never been told of him will see,
    and those who have never heard will understand.”

              Romans 15:20-21