Things Left Undone

After the election results became clear, I waited to post, making sure I was writing from my spirit and not my soul or flesh. I trust that what I'm writing is from the Spirit . . .

As I prayed about what to say, how to react, words from the Prayer of Confession came to mind. The whole prayer is listed below to give context for those who may be unfamiliar with it.

Most merciful God,
we confess that we have sinned against you
in thought, word, and deed,
by what we have done,
and by what we have left undone.
We have not loved you with our whole heart;
we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves.
We are truly sorry and we humbly repent.
For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ,
have mercy on us and forgive us;
that we may delight in your will,
and walk in your ways,
to the glory of your Name.
Amen.

The phrase I heard, "by what we have left undone," echoed in my mind. So I asked the Lord what I had left undone. His answer surprised me.

In the final weeks of the election, many of us issued a call to prayer. We repented before the Lord for our complacency (things we have done) and our complicity in the culture of death (things we have left undone). Our repentance was pleasing to the Lord.

He now wants us to walk out that repentance. He wants us to be even bolder in our stance for Him. We cannot be silent. We must speak for life. We must actively participate in the pro-life movement in our communities. We must support adoption (a key element to pro-life that is often overlooked). We must be aware of pending legislation and speak up. We must pray.

I Was in the Womb

Jesus tells us there will be a day when all the nations will gather before Him and He will separate us one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. The sheep will be put on His right and the goats on His left.

He says He will tell those on the right that they are blessed by His Father and will offer them their inheritance in the kingdom which has been prepared since the creation of the world.

The Lord describes the sheep (and later contrasts them with the goats). The sheep are those who fed Him when He was hungry, gave Him something to drink when thirsty, visited Him in prison, clothed Him, and cared for Him when He was sick.

Today I think He might add, "I was in the womb and you protected Me."

Jesus then promises, "The King will say, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.'"

For the full reference, read Matthew 25:31-46.

Look For Yourself

Look at this sweet baby who has been in the womb 20 weeks. Look at the perfect fingers, the eyebrows, the upturned nose. Don't you just want to cradle him in your arms and kiss that little forehead?

Any doubt in your mind that this is a human being? Any doubt in your mind that this human being needs our protection?

Earlier this week, the Catholic Archbishop of New York wrote an open letter alongside this photo, asking similar questions. He concluded his letter with these words,

Look and decide with honesty and decency what the Lord expects of you and me as the horror of "legalized" abortion continues to erode the honor of our nation. Look, and do not absolve yourself if you refuse to act.

You have an opportunity to act on November 4.

The Sacredness of Life

Sarah Is Pro-Life

Okay, I know some people say you can't let a single issue be the litmus test for your vote. But, life matters. To me, it really matters.

If we as a people are not willing to protect the most innocent and vulnerable, what does that say about us? That life only matters when it's convenient? That it only matters when it fits in our career plan? That it only matters when we have enough money, or the right house or the right person in our life? That it only matters when we think the child we're carrying is perfect?

The opposing side says a woman should have choice as it relates to her body. Well, she does have a choice -- she has a choice to protect herself from becoming pregnant by whatever means she prefers. It's the old freedom with responsibility thing.

I've been the beneficiary of two women who decided to give life in the midst of really difficult circumstances and I'm eternally grateful. After losing six babies in miscarriage, I was honored to adopt a daughter in China and a son in Nepal. The birth mothers of my children chose to protect them, give them life. Their decisions must have been difficult. But they chose life. In doing that, they gave the world two amazing people. And, the world is so much richer for that.

I often wonder who's missing in the world. Who should have been here? What contribution is the world missing because they're not here?

To me life matters. It matters to Sarah, too.

Sarah Palin is pro-life. Really. Always. She's pro-life when her doctor reveals her son has an extra chromosome. She's pro-life when she's about to be a grandmother at 44. She walks the talk. That says a lot about her character, her priorities, her faith.