12/22/2005 - Johnstown, NY

The City of Johnstown, NY, about 300 feet above sea level, is home to around 8500 people. That's about 600 fewer than lived here in 1990. The median household income is around 75% of national average and the average house goes for about 60% of that of upstate New York.

Life here wasn't always so. On May 30th, 1889, Johnstown was a city of about 25,000. On May 31st, a 20 foot wall of water came down from the Conemaugh River and decimated the city. By all accounts, the city has grown back in its resilience and become a place of commerce once more.

About 1 year after a deadly tsunami decimated South East Asia, it seems appropriate to be walking (albeit virtually) through a site of such similar devestation. The tsunami came, as does every flood, with the image of a father, unable to cling to his son, amidst the water's fury.

This image became more horrible to me on Sepember 11th, 2004, as my eldest stopped breathing and turned blue in my arms. By the grace of God, and the doctor's at Children's Hospital, I still have my son. Not everyone I know has been so lucky.

On September 11th, 2005, my second son was born. I cannot yet imagine the cocktail of emotions that will visit me on his birthday.

On this anniversary, may the survivors be consoled among the mourners of Zion, or among from whomever they shall find consolation.

17,100 solemn steps today.