The Incredible Miracles of September 11, 2001
by Rev. Austin Miles
September 11, 2006
(AgapePress) - - The mere mention of 9/11 instantly stirs up various emotions, passions, and mental images of that date, mostly described as "a day filled with tragedy." But few consider it a day of miracles. In fact, many angry people have thundered, "Where was God on 9/11?" That question is about to be answered in a spectacular way. An upcoming TV special will document that more miracles took place on that day -- September 11, 2001 -- than on any date in history.Grizzly Adams Productions, a producer of family-friendly feature films and television specials, is putting the finishing touches on its new documentary Heroes Among Us, Miracles Around Us. The special, directed by David Priest, will be released during Sweeps Week in November or February. The DVD, scheduled for release in October, contains extra footage including "Do Miracles Still Happen?"
Grizzly Adams Productions (GAP), winner so far of more than 118 awards, has become a first-class documentary production company. Among its releases that have received critical acclaim are Heroes of Flight 93 and Breaking the DeVinci Code.
While countless other documentaries were being put together about the events of 9/11, GAP went on a search for heroes and miracles connected with that day. What they found is astonishing. The result is a program that is both fascinating and inspirational.
Heroes Among Us, Miracles Around Us is filled with hope and amazement as it shows the indomitable human spirit and resolve during a time of extreme crisis -- qualities that should encourage us that there is something great inside of people (even in those you might least expect) that compels them to rise to the occasion in such a fashion. And it shows why faith in God should never be set aside. As this program demonstrates, God never leaves us or forsakes us.
Many who faced death that day instead lived to tell the tale -- and it is to be noted that this group included both Christians and non-Christians, all of whom said in effect that "something supernatural happened to save them." Many non-believers gave their hearts to God after the experience. It was unanimous to those survivors that God was in that fiery furnace with them.
In the documentary, people testify they cannot explain how they survived and describe mysterious voices that guided them to safety when the air was thick with smoke, flames, and debris -- such as, for example, the account given of the presence of Jose, who, according to one description, was like the Hispanic angel in the Touched by an Angel TV series. And there are other testimonies of incredible interventions that saved lives.
There was the trapped executive who was suffocating as others around him were passing out, who suddenly found himself surrounded by a mysterious bubble of air that allowed him to survive, regain his strength, then make his way to safety.
Then there was the young woman -- identified simply as "Jane Doe" because nobody knew who she was -- who had collapsed on the sidewalk bleeding. She was further injured by falling debris from the buildings that almost severed her legs. She was taken to the hospital where a Jewish surgeon was preparing to amputate her badly mangled legs when an audible voice told him not to amputate but to save her legs. Even though the chances for success were slim, he obeyed the voice.
When the young woman regained consciousness following surgery, she was able to provide the staff her first name and the phone number of her fiancé, who thought she had perished in the attacks. Despite the odds, she regained use of her legs and was able to not only to walk down the aisle but also to dance at her wedding.
The surgeon, who is interviewed on the DVD, demonstrated through body language that he really had not believed in God (as he rolled his eyes upward like in question) and said, "Something ... supernatural happened." Then he added, "Only God could have done this." And he continues to say that he has never before heard anything like that voice that told him to save the young woman's legs.
Heroes Among Us, Miracles Around Us also relates the story of Captain Jay Jonas of the New York Fire Department's Ladder Company 6. Jonas was with fellow firefighters in the North Tower of the World Trade Center and in the process of aiding an injured Josephine Harris who they found standing on the stairwell, dazed and exhausted.
The firefighters had been running down the stairs to get out of the building knowing that it was about to collapse. But when they discovered Ms. Harris, they refused to leave her there and delayed their escape (which they knew could cost them their lives) by slowly helping her down 16 flights of stairs in the North Tower.
They were still on the fourth floor in the stairwell when the tower collapsed on them -- and miraculously, they survived. They would later learn that had it not been for their delay in stopping to help Ms. Harris, they would have been in a different position when the building collapsed and would have all been killed.
This DVD offers an inspiring journey of heroes and miracles, all of which occurred on one of the darkest days in American history. Top-notch production blends actual news footage with realistic recreation of interior events, giving the viewer the feeling of actually being a part of it. And tears will be shed as a result of viewing some of the stories.
At the end, you will feel uplifted, encouraged, and renewed with a new sense of God being in control of all things -- even those things that make little sense at the moment.
Beautifully written by Sharon Dymmel, the program is presented in a way that will indeed challenge non-believers in a fashion that they can accept. By no means is it preachy; it is simply factual. The Director's Cut provided to this reviewer did not identify the narrator, who did a superb job.
David Balsiger, senior producer on the project, will be remembered for Ancient Secrets of The Bible, which was released on CBS TV during Sweeps Week and garnered the lion's share of ratings and viewers, plus winning numerous awards. It has been in constant re-runs since.
Heroes Among Us, Miracles Around Us will stand at the top of the many videos and films made of the 9/11 attack. It is compelling, amazing, inspirational, and encouraging by letting us know that, indeed, God is in control.
Rev. Austin Miles, a working chaplain in the California Bay Area, is an award winning writer who has reviewed books, art shows, and classical music concerts. He studied journalism in Los Medanos College, Pittsburg, California, and was awarded special commendation for Critical Review from California State University at Fresno. Heroes Among Us, Miracles Around Us is available for purchase online at GrizzlyAdams.com.
