Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to me. Matthew 25:41

A few thoughts I’ve been mulling over.

POLITICAL MESS: The past few months have been like a rough patch while watching the political scene unfold. We as a nation are floundering. The conversation has centered on outrageous behavior and less on what truly matters, a well-thought-out approach to responsible governance. I wonder how much the media is responsible for influencing the outcome. Some, it seems to me. I think we’re in deep trouble. There’s not a lot to shout about.

REFUGEE CRISIS: The global crises has added to this helpless feeling. Add to that the scary happenings. Brutality against innocent people is a weekly headline. What to do or think? Do we stop caring? No. We can’t stop caring. My response to the face of human suffering is to pray for those who need the help and pray that nations will respond with compassion and wisdom. I put myself in the shoes (or lack of shoes) of the person escaping for their life, and I can’t ignore their suffering. We can’t wall ourselves off from those who have no options. We cannot quit offering help to a world in need of it.

ABORTION STING: The issue of abortion comes in to play whenever there is a coming change in the White House. Abortion is a sticky subject. It is one we cannot ignore for it reveals our pulse as a people. By our silence we condone abortion even when we do not agree with it. There is much blindness on this subject and that is because we have differing views on the value of human life. I have not spoken up about this issue, but it is one that is close to my heart. I am greatly troubled by the intentional ending of a human life. When humans choose to look the other way and turn from offering protection for the most vulnerable in their midst, the defenseless person, and when it chooses to label them as nonentities or less-than others like some have historically with our African-American brothers and sisters, and Hitler and his comrades did, and militant groups do today with their acts of barbarism, terrorism and hate, then we as a civil society have chosen to look the other way like the uncivilized, with arrogance and indifference. All of life is devalued by selective social valuing. (One of my fourth grade students rudely called another student, “a failed abortion.”) Its subliminal message is unmistakably pervasive.

PROTECTED BULLIES: One of the most dangerous places in the world today is to be a fetus in a woman’s womb, particularly when the woman, her man, family, or government deems the living unborn as ‘less-than’ other human beings–unless they are wanted. Baby Eves and Baby Adams as unborn humans are being bullied by those who consider Baby Unborns as unequal and valueless, trashable throw-aways–unless they can prove their value, worth, and right to live. The structure is unequal in power, which is why I use the term, bully. The fetus is powerless and silent. The bully is powerful and bold. We, as the onlookers, are either egging the bully on by agreeing with them as we cheer on the sidelines, or we remain intimidated, inactive, and in an uncomfortable silence (like I have been), or we may act. Some begin to look for ways to help stop the bullying (and killing) by putting a face on the unborn Adams and Eves despite the payback that most likely will be their due, they, too, may become a target, and by helping those brave mothers who choose to protect their little ones.

For three years I was on a bully prevention team and learned how it works. As a school, we took strong measures to teach and expose what bullying looks like, to create a plan for the children to follow, and to offer safe places and go-to staff schooled in appropriate actions.  The bully sees the victim as deserving the bad treatment because they are seen as weak and powerless. It struck me this summer after the crimes against the unborn were exposed, how in their defenseless position these little people and society’s dismissive attitude about them has the marks of a bully targeting its victim with the rest of us as bystander witnesses who are reacting in one of three ways. It is a sobering thought when you pull it apart.

The pressure to abort is huge. Ask any woman who is fending off the bullies. (I’ve heard the stories first-hand.) The callousness with which these unborn babies are being described by people in the industry is proof of how deeply ingrained this tragedy has become in society. We are protecting an activity which causes collective harm to our social-consciousness. Conceiving life and then destroying life done with little outrage, concern, or thought, is similar to the horror of racism, when society as a whole places value on some lives and removes value from other lives–including our baby sisters in the womb, females who have no voice, who can make no choice for themselves and who have no line of defense. Women, can we betray our littlest sisters?

THE WAY OF CONSCIENCE: Many women deeply regret the abortions in their pasts. They’ve told me their stories. I see the pain in their eyes and the sorrow that hides behind a curtain and reaches down to their heart. Twenty, thirty years past, they cannot forgive themselves. Something in them was deeply harmed. That is the second tragedy in this scenario. I speak for them and others like them. They would say, don’t listen to the bully and don’t be intimidated or you will regret it the rest of your life.

LIFE AND LIVING: We are given opportunities in our lives to do good, lots of good. Every day we make choices. Will we live for ourselves only or will we live for others? It is a hard thing. We are self-centered creatures. It takes daily effort in ourselves to alter our focus. I don’t do it well, but I do desire it in a very active way. It takes spontaneity and letting go of stuff, attitudes, and rigid ways. Honesty with yourself is your undying friend. We lie to ourselves, especially in our motives for why we do what we do. So often we self-protect. People matter. They do. It is up to us to never lose sight of this, especially with difficult people or those living in a compromised state. Offer life to everyone as much as you can and is safe. Everyone. Even the haters. Love wins.

MOTTO TO EMBRACE:

• Love God.
• Love one another.
• Love your neighbor as yourself.

THE END