Room for Grace..

In light of the many subjects that tend to divide us, the topic of abortion is one that can quickly put one in one bucket, or another.  What do I feel about this?  I am a Christian, through and through.  I live my life, now, in God’s light and with His Word etched into my heart as my compass in my life.  What about when I didn’t?  What about when I didn’t know Jesus and relied on my own tattered moral fabric to lead my life, my choices, and my circumstances.  I’ve dealt with my own sins of my own choices and my own life lived in the shadows.  But I found Jesus.  In finding Jesus, I found Grace.  All those things, moments, that make up my story, are washed and redeemed by His blood.  

That brings to mind.. Who am I to get in the way of others finding their grace? One who finds oneself with an unwanted pregnancy has the choice to bring a child into the world under unfavorable circumstances, or deal with the soul repercussions placed on oneself when deciding to terminate the pregnancy.  Both instances are impactful in so many ways, yet our God’s Grace covers them, too, if one so seeks it.  It’s a contrite, humble heart God is after.  It’s that person who is so ashamed, or perhaps they’re ready for something bigger, and/or wants hope again who needs it.  God does not abandon those who call upon Him—when they are ready.  Who am I to impose my rules of when they should be ready, or what they should do to get ready? 

Jesus did not condemn the woman at the well.  When she asked Him for His living water, which is eternal life, He changed her heart in that moment.  He acknowledged her life in that moment.  When she sought Him.  He didn’t go into the city and condemn her, or make her stay with the first, second, third, fourth, or fifth husband.  Her story was her own that she made.  In it, when it was her time, she sought Him.  And He accepted her and washed her of her sins and through her testimony, she led many Samaritans to Him.

Isn’t that what we’re to do, ultimately?  Lead others to Him?  We live in a beautiful country that holds so many various backgrounds, ethnicities, and religions.  How do we, as children of God stand out?  By being like Jesus.  By accepting people where they are.  Letting them live their lives in a country that has laws and some sense of structure.   And what’s the alternative?  Hasn’t history proven that women will find a means to their situation?  If lives are what we’re meant to save, wouldn’t it be counter-intuitive to make the only recourse one that has proven to possibly not only terminate a pregnancy, but put the mother’s life at risk?  

Just because I have a changed heart doesn’t mean I impose my views or convictions on anyone else.  It’s called judging—in which Jesus explicitly says not to do.  My changed heart doesn’t change one’s circumstances.  I’m reading a book where one character says, “it’s not my job to change people, it’s my job to love.” 

On another note, deducing a life to a “clump of cells” is a euphemism for what it is.  Those who owned slaves deduced the humanity of the people they were enslaving because the reality was not aligned with their image.  Let’s not cloud the reality of the situation.  That “clump of cells” is a moment that happened, whether it be in passion, in pain, or whatever the case may be, that produced a being.  A being that, if given the chance, could live outside of the body.  I’m not here to judge the circumstances, I’m merely stating what the truth of the matter is.  Ask a mother who has miscarried, one, two, or more times.  Does their pain come from a life lost?  Or, are they just grieving a “clump of cells?” 

All in all, I’ll continue to do my job.  To love people.  I want to love that woman who is in a circumstance that leads to this.  I want to love her if she decides to go through with it or decides to keep it.  It’s her choice and when she’s ready, she only has one person to answer to, and it’s not me.  When she is ready, Jesus will be there with open arms to wash her away of her sins.  And I’ll be there with a towel.