A Dali Painting in 3-D (after-action report from the hospice where Terri Schiavo is being held

On Wednesday of last week, my friend and I just couldn’t stand it any more. The frustration, the anger, the sorrow overwhelmed us to point that we needed to do something. We had called the POTUS, the Governor, the Florida Senators and DCF numerous times. The responses to those calls ranged from “we’re doing everything we can.”…to…interrupting our message with a rude, disinterested “thank you for calling”. There was no place we would rather be on Good Friday that supporting Terri’s fight and Terri’s family.

We took Friday off of work, loaded up the truck Thursday night and drove from Broward County up to Pinellas Park. We arrived at the hospice very early Friday morning- at about 2 AM. The air was thick with fog. There was a light misting drizzle and there was lightning flashing across the sky, with a delayed rumbling of thunder, as a storm seemed to be approaching. It light of the events unfolding, the fog, darkness, and lightning and thunder seemed appropriate for the horror that is unfolding for Terri and her family.

Before getting out of the truck, we pulled alongside a man who, along with others, was leaving the hospice area. We asked him the current status of Terri, which he didn’t know. He noticed that we had brought my dog and immediately warned me that the police had threatened others with dogs that if their dog barks that the police would “take it away”. I brought the dog because I did not have anyone to care for her on short notice while I was gone (As it turned out, bringing the dog was a blessing to others). The gentleman also warned us that the situation had gotten rather tense earlier in the night, as the pro-death crowd had come and were harassing Terri’s supporters. Further, he related that a major thunderstorm was predicted to converge on the area within the next hour, with hail, lightning and up to 60 mph winds. He warned us to be careful as he walked away with a wish for God’s blessing on us.

We left the dog in the truck, as we decided to survey the situation before setting up chairs and such. Upon arriving in front of the hospice we noticed how quiet it was. There were only a dozen or so supporters milling about. Scattered on the ground, sleeping in the fog and drizzle were a handful of the weary. I have to give credit to those faithful for their endurance.

My friend (I’ll call her “M”) and I decided that it would be best to find a hotel room, get a few hours of sleep and avoid the storm. The storm never came. We got a room, three hours sleep and at 7 AM on Friday, returned to the hospice.

It was God’s Friday. We brought a 10’ banner that a sign company made up for us, 240 cups, 240 candles, grape juice, unleavened water crackers. As we would be missing the Easter worship service, we hoped that we could at least partake in Holy Communion there in front of the hospice and maybe provide that opportunity to our brothers and sisters in Christ.

As the rising sun burned the morning fog away, the temperature rose, along with the number of people who were arriving. There were people from everywhere! They came from Washington State, as well as Washington DC…they came from California, Arizona, Indiana, Texas, Illinois, the New England states.

The hospice is located on the South side of an East-West street. The media tents are located across the street on the North side. The protest area was a fenced off area on the South side, between the sidewalk and the street. It looked like a cattle run. The sidewalk was accessible, provided that you “keep moving”, as the police so often declared. If you stepped on the grass south of the sidewalk, you were told to please move onto the sidewalk and that you were trespassing. Speaking of the police, I have to say that their emotions were mixed and they were polite overall. Certainly the obstinate protesters received harsher rhetoric from the police, but I believe that most of the officers were empathetic to the situation. I think the weirdness and the threats of violence had them on edge. All this is not to overlook those officers who just had to play tough-guy, I’m-the-law-and-you’re-scum attitude, but there very few of them (in my observation).

Walking around to observe the scene, as the crowd swelled, there were many things that just assaulted my heart and mind. The first thing to note is the tremendous amount of prayer that was continuous. There were many tears spilling on the ground and many grass-stained knees. There were open Bibles everywhere and God’s Word was being read silently with weeping, declared aloud with a call for holiness and repentance, and shouted with righteous indignation. There were prayer warriors on their faces in the grass a block away in their “prayer closets” as an attempt to get away from the disruptors, the foolish ones and the cameras. There were prayers circles where believers from varying denominations were agreeing in unity, as they appealed for God’s mercy, peace, comfort and resolution/intercession. There were small circles of believers taking turns reading the Psalms aloud and reading the promises of Jesus aloud. The small circles of believers would go from weeping to bold prayer, then to reading, then to singing, then to reassuring conversation, and back to prayer. These scenes were the most prominent activity in all of the people.

Periodically, an annoying fool would come up to us to converse in silliness, or we just needed to stretch our legs so would we walk through the people. God was there. His presence filled the air. There was peace that was only explained by His presence. Walking, the prayers of His children were rising, the tears were falling and His praises were being sung. Our hearts were moved to return to prayer. I imagine that it would be difficult for anyone there to not have wept. There were even tears in the eyes of some of the media.

There were a few pastors and priests present. An announcement went out that two services would be conducted- one for Protestants and one for Catholics. Each service was held away form the media area in an effort to keep it holy and to avoid the distractions that the cameras would have on the hearts that truly wished to worship on Good Friday. Needless to say, the cameras came running to zoom in anyway. They were admonished to not be intrusive during the service, but were not very accommodating. The bread and wine were distributed. God was honored and hearts were moved to repentance, humility and thankfulness to Him. Afterwards, “M” told me that during the entire service, a Monarch butterfly had landed on the barricade right behind the pastor. During the entire service, the butterfly remained. At the final “Amen”, the butterfly flew away.

Later, in another separate area, there was a Catholic Mass along with the Stations of the Cross. The Catholic Mass was conducted a number of times during the three days we were there. The Rosary was prayed non-stop. When one group would conclude, another would begin. The Rosary was prayed while kneeling, and standing in groups, and walking. Though I am not a Catholic, and don’t agree with some Catholic doctrine and methodology, I have to say that these brothers and sisters of ours prayed without ceasing, from the depths of their hearts.

Each day, there were people arrested for trespassing. Essentially, this was very organized. There would be a meeting to all who desired to cross the line and offer Terri water. The process of arrest was explained, including the location of the jail, the amount of bail, the method of booking and transportation was provided as necessary to bail out those who would be arrested. It was clearly stated that nobody should be compelled to cross the line, but that each had to make the decision that was upon his or her heart.

The most heart-wrenching and inspiring story is that of Joshua. Joshua is ten years old. The meaning of his name is “Jehovah God Saves” and the Hebrew name of our Lord. Joshua is from Virginia (IIRC). He begged his dad to come to Florida to support and pray for Terri. It was his idea. His dad Scott, with his mom’s permission, headed off to Pinellas Park. Talking with Joshua, he said that he wanted to come down here because “Jesus would want Terri to have him pray for her and her family”. When in front of the hospice, he told his dad that he wanted to give Terri some water because “Jesus would want to give Terri water”. He knew that his son would be arrested, and asked for support, which he immediately received from his wife and the body of Christ. Joshua crossed the line. He took a stand for what His Lord convicted his ten-year-old heart to do. This Joshua is a mighty man of God and He has a certain plan for his life. He did what many were not willing to do. May this boy be immensely blessed!

Terri’s family came and went throughout the time we were there. As the days passed, the weariness upon them was increasingly evident. In the entire time that we were there, MS was not to be seen. A few said that he was constantly inside, while others stated that he hadn’t shown up at all. I don’t know what the real story is.

Saturday morning began with coffee at the hotel and some quiet time before heading to the hospice. For me, reading included Proverbs chapter 26. It is a strong caution regarding fools. In Proverbs, the term fool is related to the un-godly. One verse states; “Do not answer a fool according to his folly, lest you be like him.” I had serious reservations about returning to the hospice, as I was concerned over the foolish that were parading about and expressed this to “M”. We had seen some pretty weird stuff. There people who would go out into the street to get on their knees in front of the CNN cameras. There was the guy with the mega-phone who declared that everyone was not in the real faith, except him. There was the guy declaring the King James Only mantra. There was the woman screaming profanity like a person suffering from turrets syndrome. There was the guy carrying a skeleton and the guy dressed up as Solomon and the guy carrying a bloodied baby-doll with a bloody sword through its skull. There was the goofy woman who carried what appeared to be a plastic bowl with potatoes wrapped in aluminum foil with a sign on the front that said; “30 pieces of silver”, who would seek out every opportunity to get interviewed and say something senseless. Then there were the rent-a-mob goofballs. Most had departed the night before we arrived, but a few lingered, with shouts that must have certainly caused deep wounds to the Schindler family should they have heard their insults. A Messianic Jewish woman (God bless her heart!) arrived on Sunday. She had brought t-shirts and pins to distribute. One woman kept coming over to her to mooch more stuff. It was almost as if she saw these gifts as some sort of Disney World Souvenirs. By the time she was done loudly complaining about this and that type or size t-shirt, that this pin wouldn’t be good for her husband “do you have one more suitable for him” and “do you have any of this or that”, she had absconded at least three or four of each item that our sister had brought. We finally got tired of her mooching and complaining as “M” tried to read the Psalms through the resounding nonsense that I had to ask her to leave.

God had blessed us with Proverbs 26 that morning and we avoided the fools at every opportunity. Sometimes we would be sitting and reading and someone would come up to begin foolish talk, bantering accusations, whining complaint, overbearing lecturing, or simply weird Christianity. One woman began with the comment that; “You know that they are poisoning us right!?!” I asked what in the world she was talking about, to which she pointed toward the sky and declared; “They are spraying chemicals on us…don’t you see the chem-trails?!?” It was times like this when “M” would quickly get up and walk away.

This whole thing seemed surreal. Here was an innocent woman being killed by her husband through starvation and dehydration. Here family pleads for mercy. The husband (INO) insists, along with the Judge that the woman must die. And for what? I don’t need to go into the facts here, as nearly everyone has read them over and over again. This is sick. A horror. A tragedy for Terri’s family. It has been said that none are so blind as those who will not see. The intentional blindness is unbelievable. The weirdness is astounding. The steadfastness of God is obvious. On Saturday afternoon, I turned to “M” and said that this whole thing is as a Salvador Dali painting…elements of reality twisted and distorted to make no sense, leaving the observer with a wrinkled brow and a puzzled look and asking what sense there is in all of this. Later, as we walked to get some water, we walked past a man who was on the phone describing the scene. He said to his friend; “Dude this is like a Salvador Dali painting.”

It was our intent to return home after seeing the disruptive nonsense escalate. The media is completely out of touch with reality (so what’s new huh!?!). The foolishness was building. We went to eat and after a large meal decide to stay the night rather than drive while being so exhausted. The next morning, we both agreed that we couldn’t go home without returning to quickly pray at the hospice. We ended up staying all day again. Again, much prayer for Terri, the Schindlers and our government leaders, and for MS.

In the end, the question remains what is being accomplished there? Well, Terri is still starving to death and dying of thirst. Her parent’s hearts are still broken. The Judicial system is still a tyranny that is behaving outside of its Constitutional guidelines. The legislature and the executives have been neutered. The estranged husband and his minions still march toward the desire of killing an innocent Terri. The media is still operating on an elitist agenda.

Throughout the time we were there, the Schindler family would periodically walk through the supports and state their sincere thanks for the support they were receiving and how much they appreciated our prayers. They attended the prayer vigils and communion. Mr. Schindler in particular seemed as though he gained strength by walking among the throng of believers. It was easily seen that this man’s heart is broken, but that prayers were supporting him and that he was truly thankful.

We drove home last night in silence. Just as on the drive to the hospice, the smell of orange blossoms filled the truck with their sweet aroma. It was almost as if this were a confirmation that going to support Terri, support her family and to pray were the right thing to do. Life is in slow motion. It is as though I am still in that distorted Dali paining. “M” read from God’s Word. We prayed and cried. We gave thanks. Finally we did turn on the radio. We heard …”we are standing…on holy ground…and I’m sure that there are angels all around…” A hospice isn’t holy ground by itself, nor is a paved street, or a grassy patch of grass, or even the cab of a pick-up truck. But what makes the ground holy is ground where the Lord is present. And there were angles present. God is right there with Terri…right there with her family. From the beginning of time He knew of these days and tragedies and He is working a plan to His glory in every moment.

God is in this. America is waking up to what she has become. The body of Christ is praying.

// May the prayers and the praises of Your children continue to delight the heart and the ears of this wounded woman ... // ... and her family ... we hurt so much to know the pain they are all going through, and how we grieve at the sin that leads us to this point.

Father, let our tears fall right at Your Throne of grace. We pray for mercy, O Father of mercy, for Terri and her family... We know there are witnesses, that great cloud of witnesses, who understand our grief and pain, and we are so grateful to remember Your very great and precious promises as recorded in Your word . . . including that not one sparrow falls, not little one is in need, but that You know it. ... In all things, may Your Name be praised. We know You are able to do anything, 'but even if not', as Daniel's friends said, may we remain faithful and even closer to YOU. May the prayers and the praises of Your children continue to delight the heart and the ears of this wounded woman ... In Jesus' Name, Amen.

// It was easily seen that this man’s heart is broken, but that prayers were supporting him and that he was truly thankful. // --

thank you so much for being there and for putting all this into words. yes, it is as you say. I posted that Sat am there was a woman who had gone off to pray, only to have 3 cameramen crouched right up at her snapping photos in rapid succession, trying to get just the right nuanced expression, I guess. One was prone on the ground -- I said 2 ft away, but it was truly inches. I took a photo of the 3 photographers, mentioned it to 2 bystanders, then asked them to back off and respect her privacy, to no avail. I prayed as I walked the length of the sidewalk several times that night and morning, and with another person WAY off to the side that night, and in my little car closet.

I wondered what I had "accomplished" by being there. I was told it was enough just to be there in support of the Schindlers by those in Terri's fight, and I've heard Bob Schindlers say that on TV. I did get to see and hug Bobby and Suzanne Fri night. I did get to drop off some healthy food and drink to help sustain those who were there. And I did get to see floriduh voter and russes junjee again, and meet dandelion and Eternal Vigilence. I left "now and later" spring flower baskets for fv, amdgmary, and phenn . . . that I pray will bring a measure of comfort and God's beauty to them in the midst of the ugliness and confusion that surrounds them right now.

Before I left, I hugged E. with Terri's fight, and asked him to please pass it on to others there, as well as the knowledge that they are all being constantly lifted up in prayer. I returned to my family's warm embrace (after a flat tire on busy / rainy I-75 that took 2 + 1 hr to repair w/spring break traffic!), much to their relief. I had been under strict orders first from my husband, then from my very concerned children, to "keep it legal", not to try to take Terri water. ["We must obey God rather than men!" was on my mind, but I did promise...and anyway, it didn't seem right to do at that time . . .]

That's one thing you didn't mention -- the heavy spring break / Easter weekend traffic. I had figured to get there Fri before Sean's TV show aired from there, but alas, that didn't work.

I forgot to mention fv noted that it looked like there was a police sniper at a neighboring building... as well as police cars parked all around the building, a police RV / response unit, dogs, I'm SURE undercover people in the crowd ... just to let you know that there is more to this situation than first meets the eye. ADD TO THAT: Bob Schindler is concerned that people there remain orderly ... Bobby came out at one point yesterday, I saw, and asked the people there not to taunt the police.

this is all a "fwiw" comment, I know our hearts are breaking and our minds are wondering what more we can do, shoulda or coulda done. ...

Only today did I learn of this and see it being reported by the press. It may have happened while we were there, but we just didn't witness it.

If this did happen while we were there it could have been easy to miss. The media seeks out the freaks. If it is only one person, then they blow the actions of the one so out of proportion so as to represent his/her actions to represent the whole group. In the media reports I've been reading and photos I've seen, I have so far noticed only one man do those acts.

As each day went on the foolishness seemed to increase. Desperation, frustration, anger? I'm not certain of the reasons.

fwiw

Thanks for that report and thanks for you and "M" being there.

I'm sitting here listening to Sean Hannity and he spoke about Michael's wishes re cremating Terri's remains, and it made me think about how painful that final outrage will be to her family.

Which also brings to mind one last idea.... How about the Schindlers file a wrongful death charge against him the second she passes? Or, murder charges... Whatever it takes to force the state to declare her body is evidence and CANNOT be destroyed?

Someone please direct this concept to the Schindlers.

Re the sniper, I had heard that from someone also, but had not seen it...and I looked intently for him.

Re the traffic, we took 95 from Broward to highway 60 across the state. I prefer that route as it rolls through the orange groves and is less hectic. Funny you mention the flat tire, which I'm sorry to hear about. Better to hear that you're safe though. I forgot to mention that we stopped to help a young woman on the way there Thursday night and an elderly man on the way back yesterday evening. Each of them had flat tires. Hmm...someone must have lost a box of roofing nails from the back of their truck!

Also, I'm glad you mentioned the undercover comment. Each day there were two men who associated with nobody, but tried to blend in. They were constantly making one minute phone calls in a low voice away form anyone's earshot. Other participants had mentioned the UC cops, as the site was shut down numerous times due to threats made to "storm the building". It was believed that the intel was gleaned from plainclothes cops.

This is a beautifully written article for the most part.The fact that all denominations are praying for Terri is uplifting and shows that the Spirit is one.
I believe Terri is a Catholic and it is appropriate for her fellow Catholics to pray in the order of her tradition and belief.Would one question or say that one disagrees with a Methodist or a Buddhist if she were either?Is this a place for pointing out ones prejudice toward Catholics? "Though I am not a Catholic, and don’t agree with some Catholic doctrine and methodology, I have to say that these brothers and sisters of ours prayed without ceasing, from the depths of their hearts. "Do you even recognize that your approval of their prayer is such that the readers who share your prejudice will know that the Catholic prayers have been made valid by your acceptance?Keep in mind Terri and her family are Catholic.

Standing with you in Prayer, dear ones.

Our Master, our Hearts are Filled with so many things; Grief, Disbelief, Anguish, and Despair. But we Marvel, our King, at the Strength of Your Daughter, and Pause to Give Glory to Your Great and Holy Name. We Thank You that Your Spirit Covers her with Grace, and that her Countenance is Yet Radiant with Your Love.

We Plead that Relief and Rescue would Come from the Congress, as we Ask Your Blessings upon the Schindlers in their Quest. Move Powerfully upon many Hearts of Stone, Causing them to Open, and Make Room Within for our Terri. Help All of us who Love Your Daughter to Stand in the Strength wherewith she has been Blessed of Christ, as we Continue to Love her with our Prayers and our Tears.

Hear us, our Merciful Master, and be Praised both Now and Forevermore, amen.

Not intended to beat upon anyone. Nor was I intending to bait an argument. My comment was made because I had little to say regarding the Catholic services, as I was mostly non-participatory in them, other than in unified prayer.

I have neither passed judgement upon, validated, or invalidated the prayers of anyone, nor is my opinion relevant to the worthiness of any man's prayers. As a matter of fact I have not commented at all on their prayer other than to mention prayer "without ceasing". Also, as a matter of fact, I believe that the Catholics present prayed more fervently than the Protestants. My comments reflected ONLY upon the differences in liturgy, which is "different" than mine. And in that, I never passed, or expressed a value judgement.

FWIW, "M" is a devout Catholic and our hearts were in perfect harmony. She doesn't think I judge her faith at all. We are the very best of friends. If she doesn't think I make implied judgements of other faith's liturgy, or prayer life, who are you, who has never even met me to insult me?

For you to suggest your implied accusations that I am somehow degrading the faith of Terri or her family is an insult and merely grandstanding upon your part.

I have tried to carefully choose my words. I am not opposed to denominations, only the divisions that they cause in the body of Christ. And your attempt to begin an argument in that light are exemplary of what I have tried to avoid.

let it go. I have no heart to argue with you.

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