There is such incredible darkness at the places where abortions are done.
In thinking about that darkness, I am reminded of something Abby Johnson said. Abby was the director of the Planned Parenthood abortion center in Bryan/College Station, Texas who quit her job two years ago and is now sharing the pro-life message.
Abby recently wrote about some of the things she saw while working in the abortion industry. She mentioned how cold the staff was ... and said they even joked about sending a welcome gift when the Coalition for Life, the local pro-life group I worked with, moved next door to Planned Parenthood.
They wanted to send us cookies shaped like babies.
And that was one of the milder examples of what passed for humor behind the walls of an abortion facility.
I’m hearing from 40 Days for Life coordinators, who are telling of the darkness they encounter at the abortion centers. Here are some of their reports.
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TUSCALOOSA, ALABAMA
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As the abortion center closed for the day, one of the employees came out and threw eight small plastic babies on the ground.
"I don't know how long you people plan to be here," said the worker, "but this is how many we did today."
"Our group remained silent," said Ryan in Tuscaloosa. "We watched the staff member leave, and prayed for the eight babies and the staff."
The local team decided it would be best to distribute the plastic babies to vigil participants to carry as a reminder to pray for all the unborn, especially the eight from this particular day.
"We all deal with trials at our vigils," Ryan said. "We have faith that God is using us to do His work. This trial and others are proof that God is at work in these clinics."
The team in Tuscaloosa sent a photo of the plastic babies.
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FLAGSTAFF, ARIZONA
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The 40 Days for Life campaign in Flagstaff started with a rally in front of City Hall. For the most part, the local coordinators reported a positive response from the community -- "cars honking, people waving and smiling, giving our efforts thumbs-up."
There was one guy, however, who was taken aback by all of this. He drove by angrily -- then went away and came back with his own sign: "Honk if you hate ignorant people."
It also had an arrow on it. He stood right next to the 40 Days for Life group, with the arrow pointing
in their direction.
A few of the participants tried to talk to him, "but he was oblivious to any of our arguments." So the groupsimply continued to pray.
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BEAUMONT, TEXAS
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A sign in the window of the abortion center in Beaumont announces the staff’s reaction to the 40 Days for Life vigil outside: "Pray against sidewalk bullies."
There are interesting sights on the sidewalk, said Eileen in Beaumont; but certainly no bullies. "A pastor praying with his flock, with hushed murmurs of prayers; a huge banner draped from chair to chair reading 40 Days for Life; heads bowed in reverent contemplation."
There's a cure for the darkness; and it's the light of Christ.
There were no abortions on Thursday, Friday or Saturday afternoons. "Praise Jesus!" Eileen said. "We prayed for the abortion facility to close down. It hasn't closed down yet, but no abortions being done is still a hopeful note for all of us to know."
Here's today's devotional from Fr. Frank Pavone, national director of Priests for Life . . . .
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DAY 8 INTENTION
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May the spirit and example of the Good Samaritan fill the hearts and minds of all our citizens.
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SCRIPTURE
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Jesus said: "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So, too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side."
"But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. 'Look after him,' he said, 'and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.'"
"Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?" The
expert in the law replied, "The one who had mercy on him." Jesus told him, "Go and do likewise."
-- Luke 10:30-37
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REFLECTION by Fr. Frank Pavone, Priests for Life
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Here Jesus commands us to show mercy to the victims of the culture of violence and death.
But why did the priest and Levite fail to show mercy? Perhaps they feared that the robbers were hiding just around the next corner to attack them. They asked themselves, "If I stop to help this man, what will
happen to me?"
The Samaritan, however, reversed the question, and asked, "If I don't stop to help this man, what will
happen to him?"
In working to save the unborn, let's not worry about what will happen to us if we act; let's worry about
what will happen to the unborn if we don't.
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PRAYER
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Father, we are moved by the lesson of the Good Samaritan, who allowed compassion to influence him
more than fear. Give us the same heart.
Grant that we may never count the cost of standing up and speaking out for the unborn. We pray through Christ our Lord, Amen.
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PRINTABLE DEVOTIONAL
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To download today's devotional as a formatted, printable PDF to share with friends:
http://40daysforlife.com/docs/fall2011day08print.pdf
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For Life,
Shawn Carney
Campaign Director
40 Days for Life
PS: What's going on with 40 Days for Life in your community? Please leave a comment on today's
blog entry and let me know! Go to: http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=2303
SOURCE: http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=2303
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