The sanctity of life

 I had absolutely no intention of saying anything public about this weeks New York State abortion decision. 

I’ve refused to read most of the posts that I’ve seen people post about it. 

I have intentionally chosen not to immerse myself in or engage with others over this issue. 

In fact, prior to today, I’ve only discussed this with my husband and one friend. 

Because I know that there is entirely too much room in this debate for hurting feelings and relationships beyond what can be repaired. 

Because I know that there are some topics people feel so strongly about that their minds cannot be changed no matter what is said or who says it. 

Because I know that for people who struggle with infertility, this subject can be an especially painful one. 

Because I never want to hurt someone by my thoughts or my words. 

Because, quite honestly, my thoughts and opinions on this issue are too involved, and too complicated, and too personal to talk about to most people, and certainly too much so to be able to sum up in writing. 

So I have said nothing. And then a friend today had a post that was thoughtful and kind and discerning about the reaction of people this week. And despite the fact that his past was thoughtful and kind and discerning, still someone had a knee jerk reaction that responded not at all to what he said but to their own thoughts on the subject. They responded to what they assumed he was saying rather than what he did. 

And so I commented on his post. As sometimes happens, in times when I have been afraid to speak up on an issue, there sometimes comes a point I can’t not speak. It happened today with that. And what I said was this: 

Too many people only value the sanctity of life until such time as it costs them something. Be that their tax dollars, their sense of security, or their sense of comfort.

That may ruffle feathers or rub people the wrong way or make them mad. I get that. But it’s what I believe. 

How many children are dying each day in this world from starvation and why isn’t our hair on fire about that? 

How many children will we allow to die in border shelters from lack of medical care before we start jumping up and down about that instead of being comforted that our way of life or our personal security isn’t being harmed by these brown skinned children or their parents?

Every single day I work with parents who are in need of drug treatment  or psychiatric care but each and every year there is less and less money being spent to provide that care that will help to improve the lives of these people and their children. 

Every single day I work with children who need a safe and loving home where they can heal and grow until such time as their parents can safely care for them again or where they can stay forever because their parents can’t. And each and every day I deal with children who are sleeping in our office, or in shelters, or aging out of care without a family to call their own, because people are too afraid to step outside their comfort zones to provide homes for the least of these. 

I’ve been to homeless shelters, and nursing homes, and mental health facilities, all full of people who have been turned away, turned from, and turned down from the things and the people they need to help to give them dignity and joy. 

I’ve looked into the eyes of persons in the LGBTQ community who have been told they are less than, and sinners, and going to hell. By those same persons whose hearts are so broken by this abortion ruling. 

The sanctity of life doesn’t stop when a baby is born. It doesn’t stop because a child is born on the wrong side of the border, or with skin that is too dark, or with the wrong sexual orientation, or identity, or chemical imbalance. 

All life is precious. All life. 

So yes, value the sanctity of life. But value all of it. Even when it costs you something. 

And please, don’t judge others for decisions they make that you may never understand because you haven’t walked in their shoes. Pray for them. Grieve for them. But don’t judge them. 

Worry instead about what you are doing to love people well. All people. To honor and to serve the least of these. No matter their stage of life. 

https://andsometimesflowersbloom.blogspot.com/2019/01/the-sanctity-of-life.html?m=1