This was one book in a stack of books which I purchased in the library book sale room well over a year ago. For some reason, because it covers the events of September 11, 2001, I felt a strong need to read it near that date.
Of all the individuals who were deeply affected by the terrorist activities on that date, the fate of Lisa Beamer and her fatherless sons gripped me most. Todd and Lisa Beamer were both Wheaton College graduates. She always exhibited such a calm, faith-filled demeanor.
I have to say that the first part of the book wasn't very appealing to me. I guess I felt it seemed too whitewashed or sanitized. The first section tells of Lisa and Todd's separate childhoods. It all seemed too perfect and faith was a normal knee-jerk reaction.
Thankfully, I didn't give up on the book too soon. The story became more realistic and raw when I learned that Lisa Beamer lost her own father to a sudden heart attack when she was a young teen. At this point, more of a struggle with God begins. I'm fully convinced that this earlier trial, loss of a loving father, may have been more difficult than the latter loss of a loving husband. It is certainly clear how God was preparing her for the eventual bend in the road.
Of course, once the narration reached the point of the morning of 9/11, it became very hard to put down. I spent a good deal of time trying to get inside the mind of Lisa Beamer. I tried to imagine how difficult those initial days must have been for her.
I did appreciate the spiritual emphasis of the book. It was inspirational in reminding me that God is in all of the details. Nothing that happens in our lives takes him by surprise. He doesn't reel beneath the load of unexpected burdens. Plus, He is completely reliable to lean on ... as no one else can be.
Still, the book left me with so many questions. I wanted to know where Lisa Beamer is now and how the children have grown through the years. I wanted to know if she ever re-married. I looked on the Internet, but most mentions of Lisa Beamer refer back to those earlier years. One link did say that she had remarried but gave no specifics. Another attempted to smear her for purchasing a large expensive house.
After all the media attention, I could fully understand why she might want to slip back "under the radar" (a phrase her husband used to use). That level of international attention would have to be stressful and difficult. Even for the sake of her children, it would be wise to demand privacy. But, I still sat wondering. I ran to check my 2007 Wheaton Alumni Directory. No more information there. As far as I know, Lisa Beamer is still a single mother of three and is probably still clinging to the same God who carried her through the death of her father and the death of her beloved husband.
1 comment:
Todd Beamer's memorial service was held on 09/16/01 at the Princeton Alliance Church in Plainsboro, New Jersey. Todd Beamer's wife, Lisa Beamer, a grieving mother of two and four months pregnant with her third child, registers TODDBEAMER.ORG four days later on 09/20/01, incorporates The Todd M. Beamer Memorial Foundation eight days later on 9/24/01 and then applies for the trademark "Let's Roll" ten days later on 9/26/01. Instead of acting like a wife and mother who should be experiencing untold grief, shock, and loss, her behavior turns a catastrophic personal tragedy into a cold and calculating cheap publicity stunt. But then the U S Government's propaganda machine needed heroes as well as villains paraded through the media for their 9/11 conspiracy theory.
Considering that Todd and Lisa Beamer purchased their home in Cranbury, NJ, for $699,900 on 07/20/2000, it was interesting to note that they paid off their mortgage two weeks before 9/11 on 08/27/2001.
https://mcrecords.co.middlesex.nj.us/records/index.jsp
Maybe Lisa Beamer should write her next book, "How to turn a personal tragedy into a financial windfall" from her new 2 million dollar Harvey Cedars, NJ beach house.
http://www.oceancountyclerk.com/search2.htm
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