Look To You

10 years ago, on September 11, 2001, I was packed into a small video duplication room at the end of the hall with a dozen coworkers, watching a 10” black and white tv set, as we saw the second 747 fly into tower #2. We all felt helpless. I was horrified; as if I’d just been punched in the gut. I heard someone say, “what should we do?” I remember thinking, “yes, what should we do?” and waited for an answer. When no one answered I looked back to see the whole room looking at me, waiting for an answer.

It was a sobering moment, especially since I didn’t have a good answer. I’ll never forget that moment; When those around me, faced with a difficult life question, chose to look to me for an answer.

I went home that afternoon, and for the next few days I watched the non-stop news coverage. I saw the towers come down, over and over...at least a couple dozen times. When I close my eyes, I can still people running from the cloud of dust and debris. I still see the people jumping to their deaths. I still see the smoking wreckage.

A few days later, on Saturday morning, after the world had finally started to turn again, I was sitting on the side of a soccer field on the west side of Detroit. After a moment of silence, I remember sitting in the morning sun, watching my son’s team play ball. I remember thinking about being in that video duplication room. I remember the feeling of being blind-sided by the humbling responsibility of leadership. As I sat there, I was flooded with words. I pulled out something to write on, and In less than 5 minutes I had written down the words of LOOK TO YOU.

I remember thinking that this was a song about September 11th. A way of dealing with the pain and the horror. A song about our human condition and our natural response to demand and eye for an eye. I remember struggling with the truth that tells us we should overcome our natural reactions and respond to a higher calling.

Ten years later, the words that flowed through me still ring true, and I feel blessed to have been given this song.

Look to You
Tim Wheeler ©2001 Weaver of Words Music

What do you believe in
Do you believe it’s true?
Do you hold it over others
who don’t believe like you
Call it righteous indignation
Or a justified alarm
But muster his compassion
for those who wish you harm

Our world, your world, will look to you

The world is full of anger
and broken empty dreams
And the canopy that shields her
is tearing at the seams
Hatred rage and vengeance
seem a natural response
But you know your call is greater
as a child of renaissance

Our world, your world, will look to you

We’ll look to you
To see how you respond in tragic circumstance
We’ll look to you
To see what happens when your enemies advance
We’ll look to you
To see just where you turn when you haven’t got a chance
We’ll look to you

I know it must be tempting
just to follow happenstance
It’s hard to lead the music
when you really wanna dance
But the servant that’s within you
is calling you to stand
The reason for your being
may be close at hand

Our world, your world, will look to you

Update: August 9, 2011: Nu-Blu has just released a new version of Look To You on their new CD, The Blu-Disc. It is available on iTunes and other fine purveyors of e-music or you can get it by clicking here.