Wednesday March 24, 2010
Small Victories Add Up
Commentary by David Bereit, National Coordinator, 40 Days for Life
March 24, 2010 (40DaysforLife) – Looking for some good news to start your day? Here are a few stories that show how prayer often makes a difference … in little ways. But small victories really do add up when you take a look at the big picture of what’s going on in 167 communities!
The 40 Days for Life vigil in Spring Valley, New York, takes place outside a Planned Parenthood facility that is open one Saturday each month.
“They were supposed to be open from 9 am until 1 pm this past Saturday,” said Eileen in Spring Valley, “and they were booked with appointments.”
However, vigil participants could not get to Planned Parenthood. In fact, no one could get to Planned Parenthood. The roads were blocked off because of a gas leak and fire in the area, and the police said it just wasn’t safe to be in the neighborhood.
So the volunteers relocated their prayer vigil to the district office of their U.S. congressman.
Clear across the country in San Marcos, California, the 40 Days for Life team thinks they may have witnessed a record for longest distance traveled to a vigil — 2,423 miles.
A team of students from Franciscan University in Steubenville, Ohio was on a mission trip to California.
“They came to speak to youth groups, work at soup kitchens and volunteer in different ways, but had also a desire to pray in front of a local abortion clinic,” said Gene in San Marcos. “They found out about the 40 Days for Life campaign and decided to join in.”
The 40 Days for Life outreach in Birmingham, Alabama seems to have had an impact on Planned Parenthood’s bottom line.
Just last week, vigil participants learned that Planned Parenthood had laid off two staffers who often served as client escorts — and the accountant who’d worked there for 17 years. The three employees were given only two days’ notice that their jobs were ending.
“The accountant said that she spoke to our volunteer because we had always been nice to her,” said Judy. “She asked for our prayers and any help we could give her in obtaining new employment.” And the Birmingham team is doing just that — praying, and circulating the woman’s resume and looking for job leads.
“She seemed a little shaken and nervous losing her job with such short notice,” said Gwen, another prayer volunteer, “but she also said she didn’t really want to work there either.”
“This lesson has taught me that the employees of Planned Parenthood are not the enemy,” said Judy. “These people are God’s children and deserve our prayers for their conversion to the culture of life.”
Gwen added, “As long as we are reaching out in love, then God will do the rest.”
Amen!