So this past week while in Texas in support of the pro-life
bill, I interacted with and saw many pro-choicers. Their actions and behavior
were unbelievable and mostly indescribable. I have never quite experienced the
vitriol and hate that I saw this past week.
18 jars of feces and urine, a brick, and ‘glitter bomb’
tampons were all confiscated from prochoicers.
A prochoicer shoved a guy in our group, hard enough that the
batteries came flying out of his camera and he fell back into someone else who
fell into me.
Prochoicers chanted “Hail Satan” and “Pro-life, your name’s
a lie, you don’t care if women die.”
A prochoice woman told me that obviously the only reason
that I was pro-life was because a man had told me to be pro-life and that my
entire life was controlled by men.
Prochoicers poured red paint on themselves and chained
themselves to the Senate gallery.
A prochoicer had her young daughter hold up a sign that said
“If I wanted the government in my uterus, I’d f*** a senator.”
I cannot even count the number of times that I was flipped
off or had vulgarities screamed at me.
A prochoice man held up a sign that said “No rape babies” while
the girl right next to him had a sign that said “Jesus isn’t a dick so keep him
out of my vagina.”
The prochoicers called themselves “The Unruly Mob” and when
even NARAL and Planned Parenthood told them to leave the Capitol, they chanted
“hell no, we won’t go.”
Allegedly, a prochoicer was found outside the Capitol with a
semi-automatic rifle.
You know what these people are working so hard for? The
right to kill their child. They can veil their intentions by saying they want
the right to women’s health care or the right to choose or they are fighting
for women’s reproductive health. But ultimately, they are fighting for the
right to end the lives of the most defenseless and vulnerable.
I feel bad for these people. I looked at them, and past the
screaming and vulgarities, I saw women and men who were deeply hurting. The old
woman screaming “bastards” to all the legislators. The young teenage girl who
had tears rolling down her face. The man who angrily told me that I had no
right to be here.
I did not and do not harbor any resentment or hatred towards
these people. I made a point of smiling at each person in an orange shirt when
they walked by. Because these people are not going to be persuaded by a set of
logical arguments. They were not here for rational debate. The only way to
reach these people is through their hearts. Because I could tell that they felt
hopeless. They felt trapped. They were fighting so bitterly.
These people need
love. My heart ached to reach out to them. To be able to offer them the comfort
and healing that they need. But I know that was not my role at that time. So I
prayed. I prayed that God touch each and every one of their hearts that they
might be converted. That they might be able to recognize the love and
forgiveness of the Almighty.
What we as prolifers need to do is have faith. I may not
have witnessed a conversion while I was at the Texas Capitol, but I believe
that many of those orange shirts will one day turn blue. We need to be open and
accepting to all people so that when people are converted, they are welcomed
with open arms. Because they will need love, not condemnation. Imagine
realizing that for 5, 10, or even 50 years, you advocated for the deaths of
millions. The guilt could be enough to destroy anyone, so we need to be there,
waiting, with a loving embrace. Think of the amazing conversion story of Abby
Johnson. What if the Coalition for Life had not been welcoming and loving? We
need to follow the example set before us and love all, but especially love our
enemies, even when it seems hardest.
