Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Signs You’ve Had a Seriously Strange, Markedly Messed-Up Month

·         You get a completely unexpected job offer and are asked to make a decision about it in a matter of hours, and you do.

·         You drive the farthest out of town you have any evening in a while on the one day you get a blizzard and have to creep home on back country roads at night.

·         During said drive home, you see a huge snowplow stuck in a ditch on the side of the highway.

·         You feel too crummy and worn-out to stop by the local kick-off event for the international outreach organization you’ve been involved with for years even when it’s being held less than ten minutes away and your very own mother is the local coordinator for the campaign.

·         After faithfully attending daily Mass since last Ash Wednesday, even while on vacation, your spouse is so sick that he not only misses Ash Wednesday Mass, but also all of the other daily masses the week beginning Lent this year.

·         Lots of people flip out over the thought of making it mandatory to get an ultrasound before an abortion, something numerous studies have shown lead women to the realization that the fetus in their womb is a person not a blob of tissue, at which point a very high percentage around 90% choose life for their child.  I’m very confused!  You’re about to pay someone to use a high-powered vacuum to suck a living human being out of your womb (which causes you physical, emotional, and spiritual damage as well as killing a child), and you’re saying it’s unreasonable to make it mandatory for them to do what is part of a routine examination women before that?!  This seems to make about as much sense as going in for a mastectomy, but refusing the uncomfortable procedure of having a mammogram first.  Clearly lopping off a breast with a malignant tumor in it and ending an innocent child’s life are vastly different and nowhere even close on the spectrum of morality and ethics.

·         After a night when you and your spouse were only able to get a couple hours of sleep due to various illness issues, your spouse gets the following message in his fortune cookie: “You will sleep well at night.”  The next morning, after not sleeping all that well, you suggest perhaps it was because your spouse didn’t bring the fortune to bed and put it under his pillow.

·         You and your spouse both get called for jury duty.  He gets out of it for medical reasons, and you get to call in every Friday to for the next month to see if you’ll be appearing in court the following Monday. 

·         Your spouse disassembles various parts of the fairing of his motorcycle to bring them inside and give them a bath.

·         The most directionally challenged/adept at finding the ghetto in any city person in your household (in ours, I’m that person), finds a very dusty Easyfinder Map of Richmond that has been missing for months while looking for a neon yellow highlighter (which you just had in hand, but can’t for the life of you find a few minutes later).

Sunday, February 26, 2012

The Best Made Plans of Mice and Women…So Often Get Screwed Up

     There are a number of things I was looking forward to this weekend.  Not one of which I was able to do because my husband and I were both too sick.  Truth be told, he’s been feeling and sounding really awful due to bronchitis.  I’ve just had a pesky cold that seems to be hovering.  We didn’t go to the Theophostic Prayer Ministry training in Chesapeake at New Creation.  We missed out on Vivi’s 2 year old birthday party, which ended up being relocated due to other illness in the family. 
     I prayed for the women on the Christ Renews His Parish weekend taking place this Saturday and Sunday, but I didn’t join my CRHP sisters for dinner at Padow’s to celebrate a certain someone’s 60th birthday, nor did I go today to see the beaming faces of the team and participants while serving them lunch in the interest of not spreading germs or pushing myself so hard I collapsed after a rough couple weeks. 
     Fortunately, God had some other plans for this weekend that I couldn’t foresee or schedule on my calendar.  I had some very powerful, healing prayer time, real quality time with my husband, read a good book, got some extra sleep…
     I am grateful for the blessings today that got me through: a loving God, a caring husband, Mom bringing us chicken noodle soup, cornbread, and fresh flowers from Whole Foods, participating in the Mass, getting a couple running hugs from Vivi, one of my favorite cuties, the courage to speak the truth, though it wasn't easy, and the gift of bringing the Eucharist to my babe who's still sick.
     Thanks God for loving me in a myriad of ways through a number of people, especially when I can be so flipping stubborn!

Saturday, February 25, 2012

Crazy Busy and Super Sick

     The past month has been crazy busy.  So much so that I have a better understanding for family members and friends who tend to disappear from the face of the earth at times.  I was so tired after work, ministry commitments, and doing what I could to care for my husband who’s been really sick with bronchitis this past week, that most of the time I didn’t feel like texting or calling anyone in the evenings to see how they were doing or let them know I’ve been thinking of them. 
     This is significant for me, not because I’ve never been crazy-busy before, but because I have sometimes felt really hurt and slighted when family members or close friends haven’t bothered getting in touch, even just to say hi.  I’ve tried to make a mental note of how draining this kind of busy-ness on top of being sick with the yucky cold that’s going around while hovering at the same time has affected me, so that I cut others more slack. 
     It gives me a little hope and comfort to think that maybe my sisters don’t really forget I exist for weeks or months at a time.  I haven’t been very good about keeping in touch with them regularly either, but I think of them and pray for them daily, generally many times a day. 
     Last week someone we hadn’t seen or talked with in ages told me that Kevin and I had been on his prayer list for a long time.  The gentleman said he keeps a list of people he’s praying for on the refrigerator, and we’ve been on it for months.  This reminds me of two posts I wrote awhile back called Prayers for You in Progress and A Cloud of Witnesses. 
     I find it comforting and uplifting to know that others are thinking of and praying for us though we haven’t seen or heard from them in months, just as we have many loved ones in our thoughts and prayers who we haven’t been as great about reaching out to as we could be. 

Friday, February 24, 2012

7 Quick Takes Friday (Vol. 39)


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Lent and sacrifice.  In thinking about past Lenten fasts, I believe the most in-tune I was throughout the 40 days was the year that I didn’t give up one particular food, but instead would think about each of the choices I made and remove some things I really wanted.  I’d leave out the sugar, leave off the salt, not have a soda or dessert or candy…you get the idea.  I was much more aware of prayer throughout the day, because I was always looking for something to offer up in addition to increased prayer.     
 
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Wacky weather!  I’m a little confused about what season we’re in.  On Sunday when driving back from Ashland in a blizzard, I knew it was still winter.  Today it was 78 degrees out and we have a tornado watch.  Warmer temps are definitely my preference over snow, though it was pretty to look at from inside once we’d driven past about a dozen cars that had slid off the road and made it home safely. 

-3-
Just use your imagination and the kids will love it!  This week I had the privilege of watching a 2 and a half year old.  After we went back and forth playing Simon says, I was getting a bit worn out, so Simon said, “Lie on your back.”  We did, then I suggested we pretend to ride bikes.  For the next twenty minutes or so, I would ask the little miss where we were going.  She’d tell me, then start “pedaling” faster, so I’d have to speed up.  At each destination, she told me where the things were located.  We went to the zoo, the park, Sweet Frog for frozen yogurt, and back to the house.  We saw six lions, three monkeys, each had our own yummy yogurt, and got to practice air cycling. 

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So last week, I praised God for inspiring my husband to attend weekly Mass with me since last Lent.  What happens this week?  He comes down with a bad case of bronchitis and misses daily Mass five days in a row.  The cool thing is, it wasn’t because he had no interest in going, just because he’s been sick and most people don’t take kindly to someone coughing up a lung in their row. 

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A Connection Is Made! It’s hard to believe that it’s been two years since I made my Christ Renews His Parish weekend.  What a great group of women and friends I’ve gotten to know through the two day retreat!  Please pray for all the participants of the CRHP Women’s Weekend taking place this Saturday and Sunday at our parish.    

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Watch This!  Are you ready for a priest with facts about the HHS mandate, sound theology, actual quotes, creativity, morality, completely Catholic, and a sense of humor?  This is fantastic! http://www.patheos.com/blogs/markshea/2012/02/fr-leo-patalinghug.html

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I have a really good feeling about this Spring campaign. No one reason, but just a lot of blessings that are coming early and close together. First hour, first day, four college age men showed up to pray who weren't on the schedule. People calling on day two to say they want to join us - a doctor whose daughter is due to deliver any day, a teacher, a pastor....you get the idea. Weather that we only dream of having. Dozens of prayer partners supporting us around the city. And this...just day two. Good feeling.
     So we ask you to join us and together we will see what amazing results God has in store for us and for our city, for our country and for all of this Spring's 40 Days for Life effort.”  
- Day 2 e-mail message from the leader of Richmond 40 Days for Life. 

Head over to Conversion Diary, to read Jen Fulwiler's wonderful tradition of 7 Quick Takes Friday.

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

From Ashes to Ashes

My personal favorite blessing from last Lent was that my husband Kevin, prompted by the Holy Spirit, was inspired to start attending daily Mass with me.  As many Christian traditions observe the practice of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving as part of Lent, a number of people take stock of their spiritual lives and their outreach to others, ask God for guidance, and come up with a plan that will help them grow closer to the Lord between Ash Wednesday and Easter Sunday.      
     
Last year, I had the jaw-dropping experience of my husband Kevin informing me that he was going to begin attending daily Mass with me as part of his Lenten observance.  By then, Kevin was participating fully each Sunday and on holy days when we attended Mass.  He’d even been open to going on a couple different retreats and later served as part of two different teams for other groups of men seeking spiritual renewal.  He was living out the Catholic faith, something that I had begged, pleaded, and hoped for over a period of years when we first began dating.
     
Hearing about Kevin’s plan to join me for daily Mass made me excited, then it made me wonder how long it would last.  Praise God Almighty, since it came directly from the Holy Spirit, he started and hasn’t stopped!  For the past year, even when we’ve been on vacation, he’s accompanied me to daily Mass. 
     
This is one of the major reminders for me that not only is God still in the business of miracles, but He’s also continuing to grant prayers He inspired me to start praying years ago.  When Kevin and I first met, he’d been away from the Church for a number of years.  He’d never lost his faith in God the Father or Jesus Christ, but he fell away, sometimes ran away, from the Catholic faith. 
    
Only the Lord God could change that man’s heart and mind.  I tried many times, and I failed completely or had minimal success at best.  I prayed for Kevin’s conversion, but I had a hard time picturing the day when he wouldn’t think it was “a bit much” to go to Mass on Sundays in addition to going a few times during the week. 
     
If I think about spending 40 days focused on how sinful and selfish I am, then I’m likely to get depressed.  If I focus on how amazing the Lord is— how incredibly loving, merciful, and compassionate our God is—that He would give us His only Son as expiation for our sins, then I’m likely to be hopeful.  I’m likely to submit more fully to the Lord’s Will in all areas of my life.  I’m likely to invite God in my heart and mind to remove the lies and replace them with His infinite Truth.
     
What or whom are you going to focus on this Lent?
     
Is spending quiet time in prayer something you schedule into each day?
     
What’s the most important thing you can give up this Lent?

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

No Human's Health Left Behind

     It’s very important that we do engage in discussion with people who have opposing views.  I believe it’s best to do so in a way that is as non-threatening as possible, but it needs to be done. 
     Fortunately, I have been able to have a great many discussions, chats, e-mail exchanges, and such with people who have very different political, ethical, moral, and/or religious views from those I hold.  The exchanges I have gotten the most out of are those I’ve had with people I know genuinely care and have compassion for others.  With that basis, I have an easier time answering questions or responding to objections than I would with someone I’m not sure at their center really cares about other people and what’s best for them. 
     I think it is a pretty natural tendency for us to want to avoid conflict.  We’d rather not have our thoughts and beliefs tested, especially in a way that seems mostly confrontational or adversarial.  For me, it’s been a good lesson to remember when I engage others in discussion about controversial topics. 
     Am I more likely to read or listen to what someone has to say if I know that they are considering my position and addressing my concerns? 

Saturday, February 18, 2012

Whose Requests Are Pending?

     Is it a more a sign of the times or willful defiance that makes me not feel too disturbed by the fact that I have seven pending requests God wants me to know?  Maybe both, or perhaps it’s because the messenger in this case is merely an application on Facebook telling me there are seven things God has been trying to tell me between January 31 and today. 
     Quite honestly, I’m sure there have been a whole lot more than just seven things He’s been trying to get through to me in the past nineteen days.  Fortunately, I do unplug from the computer, TV, my phone, etc. to tune in to God’s will during the day, so He’s reached me through a number of other methods.    
     Lent is just around the corner.  I’ve begun asking the Lord in my quiet prayer time how He would like me to observe this holy time of preparation and transformation leading up to Holy Week and Easter.  I’m still listening and waiting for specifics.  
     Recently I’ve been inspired to do Morning and Evening prayer in addition to attending daily Mass.  All three have been very powerful ways and times during which the Lord has spoken to me and/or helped me understand an aspect of Scripture in a new way.  My husband and I have also been praying the Rosary, especially as we are lifting up the participants of the Men’s Cursillo weekend going on right now. 
     I can't even tell you how many times the Lord speaks through my husband.  Sometimes, I'm more open to that messenger than others. :) I’m clearly feeling a nudge to spend more time in Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.  This evening Kevin assured me that he's not giving daily Mass up for Lent, which is indeed some great news!

Questions for reflection:

     When was the last time you spent some unplugged quiet time alone with God? 

     What methods has the Lord used to speak to you or through you in the past month?

Friday, February 17, 2012

7 Quick Takes Friday (Vol. 38)


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Best Valentine’s Gift EVER!  Some women go gaga over flowers, jewelry, sappy cards, a romantic dinner by candlelight, and whispered sweet nothings, all of which my husband has tried over the years with somewhat comical success.    
 
Take One: When I was still in college, Kevin arrived at Hollins to take me out to dinner and could only whisper since he’d sung the entire 500+ miles he’d driven to see me.  We did have a romantic dinner out, but his voice was gone so there was lots more whispering. 
 
-2-
Take Two: Another Valentine’s day, we pulled up in the parking lot in a driving rain, Kevin motioned me over to the trunk of his car.  He pulled a vase from my mom’s house out and handed it to me. I gave him a questioning look. He said, “You’re going to need that,” looking at the vase, then he thrust a paper grocery bag into my free hand, adding, “for these.”  I looked inside and saw a dozen roses.

-3-
Take Three: That same year, he gave me a card that had two poodles dressed up sitting at a café table not far from the Eiffel Tower.  I thought it was cute since the year before I’d been studying abroad in Paris, and when Kevin came to visit, we had a bit of a whipped cream incident at a café near Notre Dame. Kevin reminded me of this in a most creative way.  He had put a little spot of white-out on the male’s elbow sleeve. 
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We have a winner!  This year my husband has blessed our marriage with a gift I honestly didn’t realize I’d ever be celebrating.  For almost an entire year, since the beginning of last Lent, my husband has been accompanying me to daily Mass.  Yes, this was the man who had fallen away from the Church and planned never to go back.  The Holy Spirit is still in the business of miracles!  I’m so glad Kevin said yes to the inspiration.  I can’t think of a more beautiful, more loving gift than to have a husband who is a man living out the Catholic faith and responding to Divine promptings for deeper conversion! (The chocolate with toffee in it wasn’t bad, either.)

-5-
DEC OLORES indeed! My husband and I are saying some extra prayers this weekend for the participants of the Men's Cursillo Weekend taking place at Shalom House February 16-19, 2012.  Please join us in raising these individuals up in prayer.  Thanks!  To find out more about the Cursillo movement in your area, click here.

-6-
Rediscover Lent is a wonderful companion for Catholics young and old who desire to make this Lent a time of true transformation in their lives.  This book by Matthew Kelly contains a list of daily readings, a Scripture passage, a reflection, meditation questions, and a prayer for each day of Lent and Holy Week.  With his customary finesse, Kelly invites the reader into a deeper relationship with the Lord through simple practices and disciplines that have been the habits of many popes, saints, priests, religious, and devout laypeople over the centuries…Read more here.  http://printsofgrace.blogspot.com/2012/02/rediscover-lent.html

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40 Days for Life  From Wednesday, February 22, through Sunday, April 1, 40-day campaigns of prayer and fasting, peaceful vigil and community outreach will be held in 258 cities all across the United States (44 states and the District of Columbia) plus Canada, Australia, England, Ireland and Spain!  To see the location closest to you, please go to: http://40daysforlife.com/location/

Head over to Conversion Diary, to read Jen Fulwiler's wonderful tradition of 7 Quick Takes Friday which this Friday is actually being hosted by blogger friend Hallie Lord of Betty Beguiles.

Thursday, February 16, 2012

Behold, Believe, Be Forgiven

Note to reader: This reflection was written in honor of the participants of the Men's Cursillo Weekend taking place at Shalom House February 16-19, 2012, and first appeared in the January 2012 issue of the Rooster Review. 

     The miracle of God’s love is always around us and inside of us.  The more we pay attention, watch carefully, and observe this, the more likely we are to be amazed at what God has done and is doing in our lives. 
     During Jesus’ public life, He performed a number of miracles that left people awestruck.  He didn’t heal people to get a rise out of the crowd or to gain fame; bringing physical relief was one of the many ways He glorified the Lord and brought other people closer to Him.  It was one way to get people’s attention and draw them in.  Restoring sight to the blind, healing the lame, and casting out demons would make you someone in high demand at any time. 
     People don’t want to remain in pain.  They don’t want to despair.  They don’t want to be stuck.  Jesus offered everyone new life then, just as He does now.  Many came to Him because they were interested in being healed of an ailment that had been present since birth and/or one that had stumped doctors for years.  Few understood the level of healing that was taking place.  Not many knew that the most important healing that Christ offered then was the forgiveness of sins, the healing of our souls.  Many of us seem to forget that’s still the most important type of healing Christ offers, that which allows us to enter into eternity with Him when we pass from this life into the next. 
     Christ’s followers were astounded to behold the signs and wonders He performed in the name of God the Father through the power of the Holy Spirit.  Much of what Jesus did had people, even His top twelve, scratching their heads.  They saw what He was doing and heard what He said, but they still needed help in the believing department. 
     God knows that about us.  He knows that even if He’s manifested Himself to us in miraculous ways that we still can have a tendency to doubt.  The Apostles saw Him after He rose from the dead, yet they still had trouble accepting and believing what He’d been telling them all along would happen. 
     We are blessed with the gift of faith, which the Lord plants in our hearts, because He knows that we are inclined to doubt.  We want physical proof.  We want to see the evidence, and sometimes not even that is enough.   To believe means to accept some aspects of the Divine Truth purely on faith, a grace freely given by God to help us get beyond the “show me/prove it” mentality. 
     When a person who’s been on the prayer list for months, facing one health challenge after another walks into an Ultreya or other Cursillo event smiling, we witness God’s power to heal.  We have yet another reason to believe that Christ is able to bring us through the toughest times. 
      Often the pre-requisite for healing to take place in the Bible is belief.  The person, or sometimes their friends, needed to believe in Christ’s power to restore the body, mind, and/or spirit to health.  The depth of the healing He offered, that of the soul as well as the body, was unparalleled.  It still is.    
     Perhaps the most challenging part of faith is to believe that the Lord Jesus Christ knows us more intimately than anyone else, loves us so much more than is humanly possible, and offers us forgiveness, which we are free to accept or refuse.  It’s not enough that we behold the Lord working in the world, believe what He has done and is doing, and trust that everyone else is being forgiven. 
     We have to behold God’s Presence within us, believe that He can work in and through people as flawed as we are, and take the leap of faith required to accept the forgiveness He offers, though we don’t deserve it, didn’t earn it, couldn’t do anything that would merit it… 
     Are you ready to behold God’s glory, believe in God’s mercy, and be forgiven? 

Rediscover Lent

Rediscover Lent is a wonderful companion for Catholics young and old who desire to make this Lent a time of true transformation in their lives.  This book by Matthew Kelly contains a list of daily readings, a Scripture passage, a reflection, meditation questions, and a prayer for each day of Lent and Holy Week.  With his customary finesse, Kelly invites the reader into a deeper relationship with the Lord through simple practices and disciplines that have been the habits of many popes, saints, priests, religious, and devout laypeople over the centuries.
     
The themes of growing closer to the God, particularly through participation in the sacraments, reading Sacred Scripture, praying the Rosary, and embracing the fullness of the Mass are those Kelly has covered in many of his other books, talks, and DVDs.  He describes how the ancient practices and beliefs of the Catholic faith along with adopting some quite manageable practices for daily prayer and faith formation can completely change your life and all of your relationships. 
     
These basic principles and tenets of the faith are set out in thought-provoking, easy to absorb (though they’re harder to live out consistently) points, facts, suggestions, and encouragement for the spiritual journey. 
     
I highly recommend Rediscover Lent and others by Matthew Kelly for those who are interested in learning about the Catholic faith or who want to revitalize their faith and come to a renewed appreciation for the richness that lies within. 
     
This review was written as part of the Catholic book reviewer program from The Catholic Company. Visit The Catholic Company to find more information on Rediscover Lent. They are also a great source for a Catechism of the Catholic Church or a Catholic Bible.

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

It's Gettin' Real on My Facebook Wall!

     The following message is Facebook comment 70 of 70 (the last time I checked my wall) in response to this link I posted "Time to Admit It: The Catholic Church Has Always Been Right on Birth Control" on February 10, 2012 at 4:14pm:                  "To be honest, there have been times recently when I have dreaded opening my Facebook account, not because there would be comments contrary to my political, moral, or religious viewpoints, but mostly due to the almost vicious tone with which new ideas, arguments, and perspectives were shared.  I like to encourage discussion and learn what others know, think, feel, have experienced, and discerned in prayer about different issues.  I believe most of the time the discussions, conversations, even debates are ones that help us voice our concerns in a place that’s relatively safe to explore—at least that’s the tone I try to set for the discussions that take place on my wall. 
      In looking at some of the above comments and the accusations, I feel I haven’t been a good facilitator of this particular discussion, and I would like to extend my apologies to each of you along with

Friday, February 10, 2012

7 Quick Takes Friday (Vol. 37)


-1-

Adorable much?  Oh yeah!  I had the joy of taking care of Vivi this week.  She’s so flipping cute!  Among my favorite stories that I shared with Kevin about the day: Vivi tried feeding a spoonful of the yogurt she hadn’t finished at lunch to her baby doll.  Judging by the results, I think little miss pink ’n’ poofy is lactose intolerant.  

-2-

Nice try, cutie! Vivi got me to help her put her coat on.  I knew it was because she wanted to go outside, but as soon as she approached the back door wearing a short-sleeve onesie, no socks, no shoes, I reminded her that she also didn’t have pants on.  She still looked hopeful, and I conceded that we could go out a little while before her nap, then I looked out and saw it was raining.  I told her that we weren’t going out in the rain if we didn’t have to, but that she could continue wearing her coat around if she felt like it (which apparently she did).   

-3-
Some Spring in Her Step “Is Vivi napping?” her mom asked when they arrived home.  “No.  I just put her down a little while ago and heard her jumping in the one place where it’s easiest for her to do so (on the mattress in her crib).” 

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Want to Protect Religious Freedom in This Country? Read here what you can do to protect religious liberty:



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Thinking Pink? Think Again  The biggest issue in all of this is that people have been hurt, people have been lied to, people have been judged. What each of us needs to do is be more open and loving to those around us...read more here. 
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Laughter, Learning, & Prayers  I realize this week's 7 quick takes are quite a mix, but this week has been chockful of all three, so there you have it!


Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Tell Me the Truth, though It May Be Daring

     In many ways, it’s human nature to want to keep our failures, guilt, shame, insecurities, and struggles away from others.  To some extent we do that with every single person in our lives, at least I do.  I hide some facet of who I am (or at least I think I hide it), so that someone isn’t as likely to judge or reject me, like I assume they would if only they knew some of my deepest darkest secrets.
     In a sense there’s truth to the statement that you’re only as sick as your secrets.  Those things which we are too ashamed, horrified, embarrassed, humiliated, afraid, or traumatized to talk about with others or even be honest with ourselves about, are most likely the areas in our lives where there are deep-seated lies and a measure of stronghold over us because of the fear of being exposed. 
     There have certainly been times after I have shared something incredibly personal that I have worried that person betray my trust.  Most often I have feared that the more people find out about me and the better they get to know me, the more likely they will be

Saturday, February 4, 2012

Thinking Pink? Think Again!

     These thoughts, reflections, and responses were inspired by and/or direct replies to comments, questions, and concerns people posted on my Facebook wall and e-mailed to me regarding links and information I provided about: Obamacare, Komen, Planned Parenthood, contraceptives, Natural Family Planning, pregnancy resources, pro-life prayer vigils, women’s health, the teachings of the Catholic Church…

Whose Place Is It Anyway?

     The biggest issue in all of this is that people have been hurt, people have been lied to, people have been judged. What each of us needs to do is be more open and loving to those around us. If you had come to one of the clinics where a 40 Days for Life campaign is held, not one person involved in the vigil would have done anything except pray for you, and with you if you were willing. If you had been open to it on the way in or the way out, they would have offered you information about post-abortion healing. The people outside of an abortion clinic who are praying and gently offering information if people are open to it are there to offer hope and other options to women who feel they don't have a choice in the matter.

Engaging in Discussions and Debates

     I think respect and kindness certainly need to be our goal through all of this.  I've found the more I discuss these matters openly with people, the more we have in common, a deep compassion, love, and concern for those who are suffering.  We may have different views about some things, but the bottom-line is we want people to feel loved, listened to, and cared for not judged, hated, forced or condemned.

Mandatory Ultrasounds before Abortions

      Scientific studies have shown that woman who see an ultrasound are more likely to see with their own eyes that a person is growing inside of them.  Studies have shown that 70-90% of people choose life when they are given the opportunity to see an ultrasound.  The presumption isn’t that these women haven’t thought things through, though a frighteningly high number of women have reported that they were being coerced or forced by boyfriend, husband, or family member into having an abortion, but that they haven’t been given all of the options available to them. 

To Rape Victims

     What happened to you was terribly wrong, beyond horrifying, and the scars both emotionally and physically from rape and then an abortion, are more than I can fathom living through. The most important element in this debate is that God can bringhealing in every single one of these situations. If we are open to the love that is unconditional and the healing that only the Lord can bring, then He can use even the most terrible things others have done and heal us from those hurts and go so far as to bring some good from them which is far beyond our ability to imagine, especially in the midst of the pain. Lord God Almighty, open the hearts and minds of Your Children to your love, peace, gentleness, and compassion, so that we may be a vessel of healing for others. Amen.

 My Private Investigation of a Pregnancy Resource Center

     One of the things that I did while still in college was go and play “devil’s advocate” at a local pregnancy resource center in Roanoke.  I went in and didn’t tell them anything about me, but I treated it as a sort of investigation/research project, because I wanted to discover what a young woman would experience if she came in facing an unexpected pregnancy.  I asked about their counselors, their training, their programs.  I got them to give me a beginning to end summary of what they would do when a woman calls or comes in.  I asked them what they say and do when someone is leaning towards having an abortion. 
     I can still clearly remember one of the things the director told me is essential when they are training new counselors; the people have to be concentrated most on listening and being there for the woman.  So many often try to tell her what to do and haven’t given her a moment to think things through on her own, ask questions, get information, find out her options, and make an informed decision.  She said that not everyone who took the counselor training was fit to be the type of counselor they’re looking for. 
     They want the women to feel safe, listened to, and not feel like they’re being hit over the head with a Bible. Though I’m most definitely pro-life and in favor of spreading the Gospel, I found it appropriate and extremely comforting that they listen first, offer information, and listen some more.  Of course, there are some women who leave there and do end up getting an abortion, but at least they know there is somewhere they can go and be listened to and not coerced.  A number return at some point later for another ministry offered by a number of pregnancy resource centers: post-abortion healing.

Helping Mothers and Their Babies
     I completely agree that our society and individuals can do a much better job of ministering to women facing unexpected pregnancies.  I have been truly humbled by how much one person can make a difference when it comes to listening and being there.  You’re right that those who are looking at the situation from the outside and aren’t willing to walk alongside a woman who is facing an unplanned pregnancy, aren’t going to have the compassion that comes from journeying with a woman who finds herself pregnant and scared.  I am certain I would not have the same level of understanding and compassion if I had not been willing to be there in whatever ways she needed for a woman recently who was in an awful situation.

Redirecting Your Charitable Donations: Go Red

While everyone's discussing to whom they're going to donate their money and from whom they're going to withhold it, here's an organization that's making a difference in a society where the government has been forcing women to have abortions for many years: China Little Flower.

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