Light and Life

Mist rising off Lake Superior on a January morning

So God made the horizon and separated the water above and below the horizon. And so it was.

Genesis 1:7

The lake and sky were one when I first opened my eyes in the dim predawn light. Then as the sun touched the water, the mist began to stream to it’s warmth, almost as if it were longing to become one with this great source of life.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome[a] it.

John 1:1-5

All Humility

Lately God is trying to work more gentleness and humility into me. It is a daunting task, for sure, because I am, for one, an American!

While getting ready to write this morning, I tried to find the Bible verse that God most recently used to impress on me my need for humility. As is often His way, I couldn’t find that verse, but He showed me another verse that dove even deeper.

I [Paul]who am a prisoner in our Lord request of you, therefore, that you walk just as it is suitable to the calling in which you are called, with all humility [forsaking self-righteousness], and gentleness [maintaining self-control], with patience, bearing with one another in [unselfish] love.

Ephesians 4:1-2

I’m to be not only humble, but also gentle and patient.

In this world where it feels like everything is out of control and the only way to get things going in the right direction is to yell and shove and shame, God asks me to be humble, gentle and patient.

It makes no sense to the human mind, but if God said it, I shouldn’t question it.

Pray for me! This isn’t going to be easy. I’ll pray for you if you’d like, too!

You are precious!

The only way to convince all people that they are valued is to value all people.

My musings on why so many teens are committing suicide – abortion teaches them that a human life is only valuable if it fits into the idealized view of how the American Dream should be lived out.

So when their life feels like it isn’t measuring up, and whose life ever does perfectly measure up, they do what they have been taught – snuff out life that doesn’t fit the ideal.

I believe in science

Science says that a new human is formed at fertilization.

Our Declaration of Independence says: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

If humans don’t have the right to life at their creation, then none of us has the right to life.

Science also says that women who have children outside of marriage are more likely to live in poverty.

Stacy Abrams has a solution to this probmem. She is encouraging women to kill their unborn children so that they don’t have to worry about feeding them.

If we truly want to live up to ideals that this country was founded upon, then we need to do better than that.

Unborn children have the right to life according to our founding document.

Women also have the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. However, our rights as adults cannot impinge upon the rights of children. If they do, then we are not truly acting as adults. Part of being an adult is being responsible. Part of being responsible is setting aside some of our desires for the good of those around us.

Abortion should not be what a country like ours accepts as the best way to keep women out of poverty.

Let’s expect each other to act like adults. Let’s bring justice to those harmed. Let’s support each other in our sorrows with real help.

Science doesn’t lie. With God’s help, we can have less unwanted pregnancies and help women who do find themselves single moms.

Roe and the pursuit of life

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all people are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

United States Declaration of Independence

Each person has the right to life. Back when the Declaration of Independence was written, once a person was conceived, they were considered a person. They had the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

Overturning Roe would bring our country back to its founding principle of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness for all.

I understand that women are worried about losing the right to decide what happens to their bodies. That right needs to be protected, so long as it does not infringe on the right of someone else who needs their right to life protected.

It would be nice if men and women could be treated exactly the same in all situations, but, unfortunately, that is not possible in this situation. Men cannot get pregnant, and there is no other way to create more human beings than through a woman carrying a separate human with separate rights in her body.

It is inherently unfair that women must subject their bodies to such slavery to another, but, as the old saying goes, “Who said that life is fair?”

As the African proverb made famous by Hillary Clinton says,

“It takes a village to raise a child.”

None of us are totally free and unattached to others. We all must work together to make life work for all of us.

Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?”
“I don’t know,” he replied. “Am I my brother’s keeper?”

Genesis 4:9

Cain knew exactly where his brother was. In fact, Cain had just killed Abel. The rest of the Bible expounds on the fact that we are each other’s keeper. Men need to protect, not use, women. Women need to care for, not use, men.

If the least of us do not have the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, then none of us have that right.

Abortion is not the answer; it is the death of this nation.

Remember, my rights stop at the tip of your nose.