One View from the Sidewalk (Praying to End Abortion)

Today will be my fourth time praying in front of our local, much loved clinic that performs abortions up to twenty weeks.  I say it is much loved because it has the support of many businesses (a craft store made hospital gowns for them) in the community and was even given a human rights award by the city.  Ugh!  I am always anxious before I go to pray but once I get there it's really not so bad.  I am happy to have some time to pray and I know that it is so important to be there not only praying but giving witness to the fact that some of us find this place objectionable, dare I say evil. 

On the surface it is an uphill battle.  We barely have enough volunteers to fill the twenty hours a week in our abreviated version of  "40 Days."  Mother Theresa's famous quote, "We are not called to be successful, we are called to be faithful," definately applies in this situation.  We are always reminded by the organizer that we are bearing fruit that we will never see (in this life). 

I am blessed that I have been able to take an hour every week without the kids.  I haven't worked up the courage to bring them yet as I am anxious enough without having them there with me.  It is on a busy street and every now and then  (gasp!) you get heckled.  "Get out of town." "Freedom of Choice!"  "Booooooo! Boooooo!"  Those who face the street see people giving them the finger.  But that is pretty mild.  I can deal with that.  Big deal.  I was told that a group who started protesting in the late 80s and early 90s were spat on, had dog poop thrown at them, people yelling in their face, constant counter protesters; even one woman dressing up like a nun and smoking a cigarette to mock Catholics, of course.  So after hearing about what past protesters have had to endure the heckling that we have experienced so far is laughable. 

Thank God that I am able to participate and do my part even though it is uncomfortable and anxiety provoking work.  I pray that God is smiling down on us who are able to pray on the sidewalk in front of that clinic and that he will protect us during this time and use our prescence as a blessing to the community, the clinic workers, the women and men going into the clinic and, of course, the babies.