Day 38 - what comes out at the corner

It's interesting, the range of emotion that comes to that non-remarkable street corner across from the Kensington abortion clinic. The ones who come to pray bring one set - and the world that drives by - or uses that clinic brings another set. 

People come to pray - because they're hurting for the loss of life, but there are others in our city that are hurt by our very presence. There's a lot of anger - sometimes because there's no room for an unpopular voice of dissent to the status quo, sometimes because so many have been wounded by abortion... some people are just angry. There is shame and guilt too - there is sometimes bitter resentment... fear, grief, hope...

There's compassion, there's understanding, there's love on our side of the sidewalk... Some who drive by feel relief - that someone is doing something... some are moved to join us, to add their voice and their presence to our vigil. 

Some wish we would go away - they see cruelty because they're unable to see past the crisis to the *baby* who deserves a chance to live. 

Sometimes i feel this incredible thickness where all this emotion comes to a head on this dirty sidewalk.  i wonder if we went away... if we quit being a voice - if that thickness, that emotion... would go away. 

But i know it won't.  It can't.  The battle that's waged on that street corner is bigger than sorrow, hurt feelings and the middle finger. There is a spiritual war being waged...
 

and i want to be a part of it...

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. ephesians 6:10-18