Have you been to the March for life? I have. In fact, I’ve been going (almost) every year
since I was 14. And out of those 10 years, I’ve only missed one March for Life. I went with my dad as a chaperone in high
school all 4 years. I helped plan my college trips (all but one) as a member of
the pro-life group. And even after college, I started bringing the teens I was
in charge of down to the March for Life.
It was my favorite activity as a teen, one of the best parts of the
college group, and my favorite outing to plan as a youth minister. (I’m crazy,
I know) ((side-note that is also where I met my now-fiance for the first time!))
Each year I was inspired, seeing so many people from
different states, denominations, walks of life, and ages. I loved to join in
the songs and chants and prayers of my fellow marchers. We would play the game ‘guess
which order’ with all the nuns walking around. Each trip brought tears of
sadness over the culture of death; but tears of joy and hope reminded me that
the fight is not over. It would be cold, stressful, engaging, and prayerful.
But in the end, I would come back from the trip with 2 things: 1. a sore throat
from the cold/singing/yelling and 2. A stronger resolve to witness to life.
Now I have a ‘real job’ as some would call it. (But since
youth ministry is a real job, I’ll call mine a ‘traditional job’) And I can’t
take 2 days off mid week to stand for something that I have been passionate
about since 5th grade. To be honest – I was super bummed.
I am now a core member at a different parish, and my fellow
core members all asked if I was going on the trip. I sighed, shook my head and
say “No” in disappointment.
I want to go. And part of me feels like I need to go. How
else will I get my yearly booster shot of crazy-prolife-ness? Without that all
night rally, how will I be able to have my pro-life holy hour? How will people know I’m pro-life if I don’t
stand with the other hundreds of thousands of people?
The answer is simple. Others will know because of how I live
my life. The March for Life may give national exposure to the pro-life movement.
But how we live and interact each day is how we truly will change hearts, which
is how eventually we can change laws, but more importantly save lives and heal
the hurting.
So, if there are others out there like me who won’t be marching
– don’t be discouraged. Christ calls not just the marchers, but all of us. He wants
us to live with a zealous desire to love each person because of the person they
are, not what they can do. He asks us to pray each day for those who are
contemplating abortion. He needs us to treat the elderly with dignity. We are
the ones who witness, not just one day, but EACH day.
The day of the March my heart, thoughts, and prayers will be
with the Marchers in DC and those whose hearts may change. My news feed will be
full of #WhyWeMarch posts with pictures and stories. And while the March for
Life event is only one day – we truly need to march for life each day. So, for all of us who won’t be at the March
for Life, let’s hold down the forts at home, in our schools, and at our jobs. Jesus
asks us to live with love and give others dignity each day, and that should be
#WhyWeMarch each day.
