It was a beautiful day as people across the country followed their usual routines, but that morning of September 11, 2001 we would be propelled into a state of terror and disbelief that seemed simply unimaginable in America. Life changes in an instant. For most of us, life did go on. While the event has become a permanent marker in our memories, the deep wounds of those days have healed, though not without scars. For others, life will never be the same.

Lisa Beamer never intended to be an author—at least not at this stage in her life. A young mom with her third child on the way, she had a loving husband with a job he enjoyed and which provided well for his family, an active church life, good friends. But in those moments of nightmare on September 11 from which most of us would awake and return to normal, for Lisa and thousands of others there would be no normal to return to. In God's sovereignty, Lisa was given a new assignment—one she would not have chosen and one she may never fully understand, but one for which her Heavenly Father has prepared her and is leading her step by step.

As reports of the heroism of Todd Beamer and other passengers on Flight 93 began to emerge, "Let's Roll!"—a favorite call to action used by Todd—would become a symbol of that heroism and a rallying cry to stir a nation to action. It also became the title of Lisa Beamer's book, released in late August and hitting #1 on the New York Times nonfiction list just before the first anniversary of September 11.

Ordinary People

In the first part of the book, Lisa talks about Todd's and her backgrounds. It all seems, well, almost boringly normal, even too good to be true. Lisa expressed this herself as she describes her family.

We had a Norman Rockwell type of upbringing, with Mom and Dad actively involved in our lives. Both Dad and Mom loved books. Dad preferred more technical, scientific reading, while Mom always had a new novel to explore. Rather than spending evenings plopped in front of the television set, many nights our family would play games or read books together. The Chronicles of Narnia by C. S. Lewis were family favorites, as well as the spiritual classic Hinds' Feet on High Places by Hannah Hurnard. We also enjoyed the Laura Ingalls Wilder books, so when we did watch television, our favorite show was Little House on the Prairie.

Indeed, we were an Ingalls sort of family in many ways. Mary Ingalls was a role model for me. Like me, she was the oldest sister in her family … the responsible one who got good grades and always watched out for her younger siblings. Laura was the younger one who naively got in trouble a lot, as did my brother Paul. Carrie, the younger, happy-go-lucky sister, reminded me of my sister, Holly.…

Inside, our home was a warm, loving environment, where Mom and Dad welcomed our friends day or night. It was a place kids wanted to be, where they felt comfortable. With three outgoing children and a toddler in the family, our home was always bustling. Mom made snacks for the constant parade of children, with no complaints. And not only that, she always tried to make things special. She threw the best "theme" birthday parties, and all our friends wanted to attend. She and Dad continually went out of their way to make our friends feel at home, and it worked!

Todd's family, too, is portrayed with the same sense of contrast to the crude and bizarre lives of today's television families. Both Todd and Lisa experienced loving homes where the Lord was honored.

Facing Tragedy

Life was pretty good for Lisa and her siblings, but soon they would face a personal tragedy. Her dad seemed the picture of good health, until he went to work on October 25, 1984. Pain seared through his chest and everyone thought he was having a heart attack.

The next morning at 5:00 A.M., the doctor called Mom to tell her that Dad had suffered an aortic aneurysm. A small hole had developed in the wall of his aorta.… The hole had to be repaired immediately.…

Before she headed to the hospital, Mom woke us up so we could get ready for school. Then, by my bedside, Mom explained to Paul, Holly, and me that the hospital had called and the doctors were going to do emergency surgery. "They're going to move Daddy to another hospital," Mom said. "We need to pray." At about 6:30 A.M. we were in the process of praying when the phone rang again. Mom left the room to answer it. When she came back, she blurted through her tears, "They tried to move Dad, but it was too late. He died."

In that instant my world fell apart. I wasn't ready for this. I was 15 years old and just beginning to wrestle with a lot of life's tough questions. I felt cheated. Dad was our foundation, the rock we all depended on. He not only provided for our family financially, but his mere presence in our home also provided an incredible sense of security. Now he had been ripped out of our lives! And suddenly what was "always all right" as long as Daddy was here had gone terribly wrong.

What were we to do? I was scared, hurt, and angry—all at the same time. I railed against God, sometimes overtly, but most of the time expressing silent rage.

In Lisa's description of her struggle with her father's sudden death, we see a haunting preview of September 11:

My faith in God was severely shaken. Questions pummeled my heart and mind.…

Yesterday, life had been wonderful. Our family was intact, and I had dreams of a fabulous future, certain to be fulfilled. Now, virtually overnight, life itself became uncertain. I had never felt so vulnerable. The void from Dad's unexpected death seemed impossible to fill.…

Yes, we had our faith and believed solidly that God had everything under his control, but the hole in our family was real.…

Every person who has ever grieved the loss of a loved one has known that awful feeling. Despite our faith, sometimes life just hurts. God didn't answer my "why" questions, but he did confirm a message to me through the Bible. Over and over I was reminded of a promise God made through the prophet Jeremiah: "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (Jeremiah 29:11). Although I didn't understand the full ramifications of those words, they provided a candle of light to help me through an extremely dark passageway in my life.

Extraordinary Faith

Lisa's mother was not absent pain, but her example of faith would be a tremendous encouragement.

Ever the skeptic, my grandfather thought Dad's death would finally convince my mom that "her religious beliefs" were foolish and that Christianity was a sham. Just the opposite happened. Mom dug in even deeper, depending on God for her very existence.

Her attitude was, I hate this, but I don't want to waste this. I really want to learn what I'm supposed to get out of this. When a father leaves behind little children and a wife, it's not a good thing. It's evil. But God can turn evil to good.…

"This life isn't all there is," Mom repeatedly told us kids. "It's merely a drop in the bucket. We're here to prepare ourselves for eternity and to help other people do the same. Life isn't easy, but the good news is that, even at its best, it can't compare to how great heaven is going to be."

Mom didn't overspiritualize our problems, but she did try to keep the big picture in our minds. God had an ultimate plan for our eternity, but he was also interested in taking care of us here and now.…

A Significant Conversation

Lisa decided to attend Wheaton College, where she would meet Todd. While there, the trial for a malpractice suit in her father's death was about to begin.

One day I was talking with Dennis Massaro, the director of Wheaton's Office of Christian Outreach, the organization that had arranged our summer mission trip to Indonesia. Somehow the subject turned to the upcoming trial, and I felt the cauldron seething with me. I dumped the whole mess on Dennis, who listened patiently without a word of condemnation.

When I was finally out of words, Dennis calmly said, "You know, Lisa, God knew the hospital they took your dad to wasn't going to have the right equipment to perform the surgery."

I gulped hard, as though I was going to interrupt Dennis, but he paid no attention and kept right on talking. "The Lord knew the first doctor they talked to was going to blow off the situation. At any time, God could have changed the circumstances. he could have changed the hospital or the doctor. Better yet, he could have healed the hole in your dad's heart. But for whatever reason, he let the natural course of things take place that day."

I blinked back tears as Dennis continued, "Knowing what the consequences were going to be for your family and for you, he nonetheless allowed it to happen. Maybe it's time for you to accept that."

Dennis's gentle words were a targeted arrow in my heart. I knew he was right. And at the same time I both loved and hated him for telling me the truth. But the truth set me free.

My conversation with Dennis reminded me of what I'd read from the Bible just a few nights earlier. So I flipped back to the same passage again. Although I'd read it many times previously, suddenly the words popped off the page at me:

Oh, the depth of the riches
of the wisdom and knowledge of God!
How unsearchable his judgments;
and his paths beyond tracing out!
"Who has known the mind of the Lord?
Or who has been his counselor?"
"Who has ever given to God,
that God should repay him?"
For from him and through him
and to him are all things.
To him be the glory forever! Amen.
—Romans 11:33-36

As I read those words, a thought struck me. Who are you to question God and say that you have a better plan than he does? You don't have the same wisdom and knowledge that he has, or the understanding of the big picture. You think you deserve a happy lie and get angry when it doesn't always happen like that. In fact, you are a sinner and deserve only death. The fact that God has offered you hope for eternal life is amazing! You should be overwhelmed with joy and gratitude.

All at once I was caught in a dichotomy: I know I'm really important to God, and he truly loves me. Yet at the same time, I'm a mere mortal with limited understanding. Who am I to question him? I asked myself, realizing, perhaps for the first time, how awe-inspiring God really is. It was then I made a conscious decision to stop questioning God and start trusting him.

That brief conversation with Dennis Massaro would become one of the most significant in my life, replaying in my mind over and over in the years—and the tragedy—to come.

And so, the loss of a 15-year-old's beloved father and the struggles of the young collegian show how a loving Heavenly Father was preparing a woman of God to face an even greater challenge—this time, in the spotlight of history. We're sure you'll want to read Let's Roll! for the rest of this inspiring story of courage and faith.

Click here for more information and to read the first chapter in Let's Roll!.