Vulnerable. That's what September 11 brings to the surface, isn't it. The tightening of the chest as we ponder air travel, the danger of even joking about bombs and planes at an airport. The realisation that we are not destiny masters.

30 years ago our townspeople were afraid about the Gorge. What if something was lost? What if control, access, rights were lost? It produced some very ugly words. We don't like change, the unknown, and especially the other.

It wasn't 9/11 that brought fear of dark faces.

It has almost always been ever thus. The first humans in the Christian Bible tell God they were afraid, because they were naked, so they hid.

And we hide too.

In this same week we remember 9/11, Nitmiluk's return to Jawoyn, and RUOk? day.

I'm a Christian because God is the one who comes near to the hiding, the vulnerable, the fearful. God is the stranger - but he has made the first move. If you're hiding, Jesus is calling, and you don't need to be afraid anymore.

St Paul's Anglican Church meets on Sundays at 9am with kids church. All welcome.