Vita

+JMJ+

In less than a week, thousands of people will be leaving the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C...and thousands more will be settling in for the all night Prayer Vigil leading into the 36th Anniversary of the Roe vs. Wade decision, which legalized abortion in the United States.

On the Chicago front, I've been preparing (literally) night and day for our pilgrimage to participate in the March for Life. Unlike other years, preparations have been particularly challenging. I think there are two practical reasons: 1) I am responsible for double the group--Praise God we have two buses of college students and young adults! 2) Much of the submitted paperwork has been incomplete, causing me to spend much of the past week hunting down forms and checks. At one point I was intently irritated by the situation...but as time passes, I see this as less about missing paperwork and more about the mission: Sacrifice and Love.

Why have I gone through the effort to bring groups to D.C. for the past 8 years of my life? One reason is my desire to share this experience with others...another is truly to help form future leaders in the pro life movement. But, the main reason should be about making an intentional sacrifice out of love for one another and loving memory of those who's lives have been lost.

When I talk to children and teens about chastity and pro life, the theme that keeps recurring in my talks is sacrifice and love. When I have elementary students I make them repeat after me/fill in the blanks: "Love is a (sacrifice)." "Love is a (gift) that we (give) and (receive)." They really like the participation...and the reason I have them repeat it throughout the talk is that I want them to remember that Love is a SACRIFICE ten years down the road, when they are dating or thinking about marriage. Too often everything is painted rosy and reality is never taught. Even little children understand the value of a gift, and when you talk to them about life being a gift, it makes perfect sense.

The same is true for love being a sacrifice. They may not respond (sacrifice) immediately, but once you ask the children about Jesus and what He did, and you talk about how Jesus died and why...then it starts t make sense. Their little minds can grasp the delicate truth of how love is a sacrifice.

Truly, I need to work on being patient and kind...and accept joyfully all the beautiful crosses God offers--even irritating ones like massive scores of paperwork. I hope and pray that the gathering in D.C. this January 22, 2009 carries a somber, yet joyful note. For even in mourning, we have cause for joy, for Christ is our hope.