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How close is your nearest 40 days for Life campaign?

Even with a springtime record 258 cities taking part,
many people are traveling far — really far — to pray
at the peaceful vigil. But for so many dedicated
faithful the need is great, the urgency is high ... and
the journey is but a small obstacle.

This first story comes from Canada, where some people
are really going the extra mile — well, kilometer. For
these volunteers, the trip from home to the vigil site
takes upwards of FOUR hours!

As we enter the home stretch of this campaign, be
encouraged by these efforts and challenge yourself
before this campaign ends — it may help save a life!

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA

“The prayer vigil in Vancouver, BC is really taking
off,” said Peter, the local coordinator. “We’ve had
groups coming out all the way from Powell River —
that’s over 170 km away (about 105 miles) and you need
two ferries to get here. And they’re coming out again!”

Students from Christ the King Seminary in Mission,
British Columbia came to pray on a rainy day and
stayed for four hours. A Benedictine priest also
brought students from another seminary that same day.

Peter also said a visit from Canadian Martyrs Catholic
Church was reported by a prominent Chinese language
newspaper, the Sing Tao Daily.

He provided a translation of the article, part of
which noted that the volunteers “braved the cold
weather to participate in the 40 Days for Life prayer
campaign outside the BC Women’s Hospital, catching
the attention of passing drivers and earning honks
in support.”

To see photos of the Vancouver vigil — and an image
from the Chinese language newspaper’s online report —
please go to:

http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=3036

SOUTHFIELD, MICHIGAN

Patricia writes that it was a very quiet morning at
the 40 Days for Life vigil in Southfield. Only staff
cars were in the abortion center’s parking lot when a
taxi quickly pulled up into the driveway.

She found it curious that the car stopped near the
street and didn’t go all the way into the lot. But
it soon became clear what was happening — the taxi
driver had just stopped to pray.

“He got out of his door looked at the building for
about a minute, blessed himself and turned to look at
us. We waved. He waved back,” Patricia said.

The driver then walked over to the vigil participants
and said, “What they do in this place is very bad.
I can’t stay because I am working.”

“We had a little discussion with him sharing some
personal things,” she said. His final comment was
about the gift and blessing of fertility. “You should
not kill someone because you are healthy.”

CLEVELAND, OHIO

Marge in Cleveland shared the story of a young woman
who approached the abortion facility in Cleveland where
a 40 Days for Life vigil is in progress. She stopped to
talk to the people praying, telling them she was
pregnant and was there to have an abortion.

“I told her there were many places she could receive
help,” said Marge. “She was struggling because she
already had a 4-month-old child.” She quickly accepted
a list of places where she and her children could find
assistance.

“She went back and sat in her car for some time,”
Marge said. “All the while, I prayed for her that God
would change her mind.”

After a time, she started the car, headed towards the
exit — and gave Marge a great big smile as she said
she had decided not to have the abortion. “A saved
baby!” Marge said. “All the glory to God!”

Day 32 - March 24

Intention:

May we come to know that divine life, in relationship, creates human life.

Scripture:

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.

--John 1:1-3

Reflection:

"In the beginning" was God. Always, before all times, there was God. This particular God -- the God of the Bible, the God of St. John's Gospel -- is different from all other gods. This God is alive and full of life. This God is not the picture of deadness and death, aloneness and isolation. This God is the picture of life, relationship, and unity. For within this God, within this one God, there are three divine persons who live, who love, and who work -- together. This is the glorious mystery of the Trinity. The Trinity means divine life. The Trinity means three, living Persons -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit -- who relate to each other. The Trinity means mutual love and service among three Persons.

The Word was always with God the Father. This Word was, is, and will be the Trinity's second person. The Word is also the Son of God or, as revealed in time, Jesus Christ. God the Father and God the Son live, love, and work for each other. As one, they create "all things" together: the Father creates all things, including all human life, through the Son.

So the Father, through the Son, creates all human lives. The little one swimming in his mother's womb, the infant smiling in his father's arms, the child crying in pain in a hospital bed, the energetic teen running another mile, the old man gasping for his last breath -- all were created, at their beginning, by the Father through the Son. No exceptions. Divine life creates human life.

Prayer:

O God, may we always be quick to call you Father. And when we call you father, let your Spirit remind us that we, and all people, from their beginning to their last day, are your children. We praise you, Father, that you sent your Son to reveal to the world that all people are His brothers and sisters, that all people are your children. Through Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.

Rev. Paul Stallsworth
President, Lifewatch (United Methodist Church)