The Hour Was Early

"The hour was early; the morning still, warm and beautiful. Shimmering leaves, reflecting sunlight from a cloudless sky, made a pleasant contrast with shadows in my garden as I gazed absently through wide-flung doors...
"Suddenly, a strong flash of light startled me--and then another. So well does one recall little things that I remember vividly how a stone lantern in the garden became brilliantly lit and I debated whether this light was caused by a magnesium flare or sparks from a passing trolley.
"Garden shadows disappeared. The view where a moment before all had been so bright and sunny was now dark and hazy. Through swirling dust I could barely discern a wooden column that had supported one corner of my house. It was leaning crazily and the roof sagged dangerously.
"Moving instinctively, I tried to escape, but rubble and fallen timbers barred the way. By picking my way cautiously I managed to reach... the garden... To my surprise I discovered that I was completely naked. How odd!
"What had happened?"

The above is not a description of anyone's experience on September 11, 2001. Rather they are the words of a Japanese doctor in Hiroshima on August 6th 1945.
I don't think these events change the world so much as they change humanity and we live in the rush of their consequences.