"Raise your hand if you love little babies," my pastor teased this morning, while trying to get nursery volunteers. But really, whom among us doesn't coo, cuddle, and pinch the little ones we see in the grocery stores, our neighborhoods, or our own homes? It is especially hard for me to understand why so many little lives (click here for stats) have ended in such a tragic way, as I long for children of my own. Tuesday, January 22 is the 40th anniversary of Roe vs. Wade, the historic (and devastating) court-ruling that allowed this horrific practice in the U.S, a place claiming to promote life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. But today we honor unborn life, Sanctity of Life Sunday 2013.
I sat with a friend at lunch today, who is both pregnant, and also works at a crisis pregnancy center here in the central Florida area. She recounted the story of a young woman who inadvertently showed up at the center, hoping to get an abortion. Meghan was very saddened by the conversation, as she offered a free ultrasound, and the mother refused to even look at the evidence of life. It struck me, thinking of how we all do this in some way: we turn our eyes from our sin, and pretend it is not there.
Abortion is sin, and sin separates us from God, and others. My heart breaks for the women who are deceived into thinking that an abortion will somehow make their lives better, but live with guilt and shame instead. They are separated from the joy they can have in Christ, co-creators of new life. It's equally shocking to me that such a large percentage of abortions are done by those who call themselves 'Protestant' (see stats above.)
But God is truly able to do all things, we must remember. Tomorrow is MLK Jr. day, and the work this faithful man did to end segregation can remind us that truly hopeless situations can be redeemed and restored. I've included a sweet video for you, and hope that you will join others in praying this Tuesday, for this great evil to be ended in our nation.