Life. What does that even mean, anyway? People walk around saying, "I hate my life" or "I love life" or "Life is good" or "Life is tough." But what, honestly, does that even mean? Sometimes I think we don't give half a thought to the words that come out of our mouths. (In fact, I'm sure--have you listened to the Democrats [and Republicans] lately?)
But honestly, when the word "life" passes our lips, do we even realize what we're saying? Do we have any idea that we're invoking the most precious, most fragile miracle of the known and unknown universe? Do we realize how we take it for granted every day?
We don't. Or else I wouldn't need to ask.
In Washington, D.C., I had the opportunity to, of course, participate in the March for Life, a Vigil Mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, and a youth rally held at the D.C. Armory Stadium. I haven't felt so truly alive in a long time. It's only when you're fighting for life when you realize how truly amazing it is, this glorious prize you're fighting for.
At the Vigil Mass, if we weren't all Christian there would have been brawls breaking out everywhere over floor space in the CRYPT--two hours before the Mass even started. That's how crowded it was. Crowded with thousands upon thousands upon tens of thousands of people who were there to fight for the pro-life cause.
There's that word again. Life.
At the D.C. Armory Stadium, there were TEN THOUSAND young people like me there. At the other session held at the Verizon Center, there were twenty thousand. Thirty thousand young people amassed in the service of a single cause: life. When everyone started singing and doing the hand motions to "Awesome God," it was like looking out at a sea of people. A sea of life. What else could it be? I've never, NEVER felt more alive than I did at that rally, at the Mass, at the March.
It makes me think of all those people who wander around searching for the meaning of life, when they should be just living. That's the meaning of life. Life is one of the most simple, profound words in the English language. Its meaning is itself.
At the March for Life... Well, obviously that was one of the greatest things I've ever experienced in my life. Half a million people or more, all gathered in our nation's capital for a single purpose: life.
Honestly, I can't think of a greater cause to support. Life. Simple. Profound. Beautiful. Why wouldn't you want to support life?
Because we don't understand what it truly is. Because it's become so easy to rationalize. Because it's something we take for granted. Because it's something we put labels and price tags on, when in reality, all life is universal, and all life is priceless.
Fifty million. Fifty million souls. Gone, since the legalization of Roe v. Wade almost forty years ago. But I hate the number 50 million. Why? Because it's a statistic. And these lives must be known by more than just a statistic. They must be known as people, each individual one, each member of the 50 million.
When we acknowledge that life is life, that life is precious, that life is a miracle, that life is a right that no one has the right to take away from anyone else, only then can we begin to live.
If we can't live, we're somewhat screwed, so I suggest we start very soon.
50 million. Imagine everyone you know, wiped off the face of the Earth. Fifty million. What if we randomly selected 50 million members of the U.S. population to be annihilated (we really do this)? That's 16% of the population, or about one in six people. Your chances of being killed? One in six. Scared?
It's a lot scarier when it's personal. When it's you whose life is hanging by a thread (or an umbilical cord). Here's a newsflash for you: It is personal. You are connected to everyone on this Earth. You share their common humanity, and if we can kill our own children, we can kill anyone. We can kill you. Just keep that in mind the next time you denounce pro-lifers as crazy religious zealots. That we may be. But it might save your life.
Life. There's that word again.
We take it for granted until it's gone, and then we can't take anything back. There are no returns, both in your own life and FOR the life of someone else.
Killing innocents is wrong. Killing innocence is wrong.
Abortion, therefore, is wrong.
Join me. Join us. Join the fifty million dead, and the millions across America and the world. Fight for life, or die trying.
True life is found in the willingness to die for it.
And, of course, God bless America.
:)
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