I walked out of one of the buildings on campus after just getting information about my major when I was shocked by large posters of aborted babies. I literally stood there in disbelief and disgust as I stared at the horrific scene in front of me. The posters stretched to probably ten feet high while the "pro-lifer's" stood behind a fence to protect them from the crowd that quickly gathered.
I walked around the display - looking for whoever was in charge and for different reactions of my fellow students. I soon saw the Atheist Club with a table set up opposing the opposition. I recognized one of them from the debate on abortion I attended just a few weeks before. I stood just close enough for him to hear me say, "This is so messed up."
I couldn't control my emotions - the anger, frustration and pure heartbreak for what these people were doing. My whole body was shaking. I had to talk to someone. I found one of the pro-lifer's talking to two guys on the other side of the fence, so I walked up and stood there, pretending to listen to them. "So what do you think of all this?" he asked me, and after gathering a few breaths I asked him why this was necessary. One of the guys answered that yeah, it's an awful thing to see, but maybe people need to see it in order for anything to change. "Are you a Christian?" I asked the pro-lifer. He told me he believed in God but he wasn't sure about the whole Jesus thing. I told him that I am a Christian and I believe Jesus is God and that I believe in everything He taught. I then told him about one of my favorite passages, which he was familiar with, found in John chapter eight verses one through eleven. It's the one about the adulteress woman who the pharisees wanted to stone but then asked Jesus what they should do. Jesus told them that whoever is without sin to throw the first stone, and each person left. Jesus, even though He could've condemned the woman because He's God, told the woman that He did not condemn her and that she should go and sin no more.
I told the pro-lifer that I felt like what he and the others with him were doing was exactly what the pharisees did. I asked him how this will change anyone's heart on the subject. I told him that it would be like someone following me around all day shouting all the wrong things I've ever done to everyone. I asked him how this was good news. As far as I could see it - what these people were doing was pointing the finger at people instead of pointing the Way to Jesus Christ through love.
I couldn't help but cry as we talked. I was so heartbroken over the whole thing. At one point I looked over at a young lady who was standing by the Atheist's table. She was looking at me and, I believe, listening to our conversation. What hit me the hardest though, was that she was crying. I looked around at all the other young women walking by. I couldn't help but feel brokenness for each one. All I could think about was, "What if one of these women has had an abortion? How must she be feeling?" I wanted to go around giving a hug to everyone in hopes of mending some of the obvious anger, hurt and brokenness surrounding the display.
This experience is one that I will not forget.
Jesus said blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons and daughters of God.
After walking away from the display, "peace" was all I was longing for.
I have to say - I am very pro-life. However, I think a large percentage of people who call themselves "pro-lifers" forget that pregnancy and related issues involve the woman, too. This is no black or white issue. But instead of telling everyone what they're doing or did wrong, why not show them solutions filled with hope, peace and love?
--Peace and Love.
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