Sanctity of Life

Today is Sanctity of Life day.

SONG FOR THIS POST: Always by Switchfoot

The issue we are considering today is one of person-hood and it is a conversation that must start with you...in the stillness of your heart.

As a mother: I have been taught that each woman was created to nurture life.

As a woman: I have been taught that successfully choosing how to accomplish all the desires of my heart in one lifetime is not a destination, but a journey.

As a person that gets paid to create and interpret art: I have been taught that the most fulfilling thing I can do with my talents and efforts is to enable, participate and effectively communicate with the talents and efforts of other people.

As someone that is currently 9 months pregnant: I have been taught that babies in the womb: 1. have physical needs 2. can bring great joy to a person and a community 3. require nurturing, nourishment and consideration just like my my family and just like all of my friends with whom I have been eternally linked 4. babies in the womb can warm hearts and soften the harshness of life just like those same friends and family members.

As a volunteer counselor for a crisis pregnancy center: I have been taught that most people (women and men) facing an unplanned pregnancy are also facing many other uncertainties in their life.  1. They have physical needs 2. They need a reason for great joy and people with whom to share that joy 3. They need to be nurtured, nourished and considered by loving companions 4. They feel lonely and unfairly treated by life.

As a teacher: I know that the biggest and most important success you can have in life is to give someone else the opportunities and skills to create a life of there own.

Please, friends, be smart as you interact with life.  It is so sacred and so important. It is powerful, influencing, sophisticated, ugly, difficult, beautiful, touching, annoying, and just like the trees of the earth sacrifice their seed to replenish her drought, so human life requires us to sacrifice pieces of ourselves for the lives of others.

Abortion is a choice, but only a small part of that choice involves a positive pregnancy test and the question that inevitably follows - Start asking the questions now.  Start with these: What is life?  Have you sanctified it today?

Why does sanctity of life align with the Christian message?

Christ suffered death so that we could know without a doubt that when we think it is all over, there is hope:

"We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life." (Romans 6:4)

And he said to them, "Pay attention to what you hear: with the measure you use, it will be measured to you, and still more will be added to you. For to the one who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away." (Mark 4:24-25)

"At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another.  But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life." (Titus 3:3-7)

"I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain."  (Philippians 1:21)

"My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life." (Psalm 119:50)

"We also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us." (Romans 5:3-5)