C
Cat
Guest
A thread was started yesterday in the Traditional Section about a political issue, and one of the posters suggested praying for the situation.
I have to admit that until a few weeks ago, I would have said the same thing, but doubted in my mind that praying would make any difference. I’m 54, and I’ve lived long enough to see many unanswered (at least, as far as I can perceive) prayers. I confess that I have become rather hard-hearted about prayer.
BUT–I would like to encourage all of us not to give up and to continue to pray to the Lord God with faith and hope, even for seemingly impossible situations like the one in the political thread!
For many many years, two decades, the Christians in our Northern Illinois city have prayed for the closing of the abortion clinic in town.
I have spent time down there praying during the 40 Days for Life. (God BLESS that organization!)
Some of the Catholics in our parish have been faithfully praying twice a week every week for years, missing only a few weeks during their family vacations. All weather, all year–they are there. (And we have some nasty weather here!)
Various priests and religious in our city have also been faithful to pray, and have faced derision and slander from the owner of the clinic, who posts hand-lettered signs in the windows of the clinic labelling the priests by name as “perverts.” Up until a few years ago, the owner also haranged those who came to pray by screaming insults and filthy words at them over a loudspeaker; I believe this was stopped by the city (noise pollution).
And yes, there are Protestants who are faithful to pray, too, and sing–the Protestants tend to sing! And they were haranged, too.
But I’ll be honest–I never really thought the clinic would close. I figured that all of us would receive our rewards in heaven for being faithful, but I didn’t think that it was possible for the clinic to actually shut down.
Well, you’ve guessed it–a few weeks ago, the clinic closed forever.
What nailed them is the state inspection–several serious health and safety violations. I am still shocked that the ladies who entered that clinic never got any lab testing (I work in a lab), and that there were no RNs on site. How scary for those women (not to mention the babies, of course). What kind of “choice” puts women at risk for death or serious injury/illness?!
I never dreamed that the closing would be brought about by something as mundane and secular as “inspection.” We are inspected in our hospital several times each year by several organizations, and although there have been occasional fines (mainly for paperwork irregularities), we have never been cited for anything unsafe or unclean.
And what’s even better is that another abortuary in Illinois has been shut down due to failing the State inspections, and several other clinics are in danger of closing! Here’s a link to an article that you will print out and save and cherish and praise God for: abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/apnewsbreak-ill-cracks-abortion-clinics-15406586
So when someone says, “We should pray for ______,” YES, we SHOULD pray! We should never doubt, but instead, trust God that He does hear our prayers and that He does have a solution to the problem that we see as insurmountable. I am sooooo encouraged in my faith by this huge answer to prayer!
I cannot tell you how wonderful it feels to live in a city that no longer has an abortion clinic!
BUT…our esteemed bishop has published a thought-provoking and very wise column about the need to remain vigilant and not sit back and relax now that the clinic is closed down. Here’s a link to his column that you will also print out and save: observer.rockforddiocese.org/article?id=7
Keep praying!
I have to admit that until a few weeks ago, I would have said the same thing, but doubted in my mind that praying would make any difference. I’m 54, and I’ve lived long enough to see many unanswered (at least, as far as I can perceive) prayers. I confess that I have become rather hard-hearted about prayer.
BUT–I would like to encourage all of us not to give up and to continue to pray to the Lord God with faith and hope, even for seemingly impossible situations like the one in the political thread!
For many many years, two decades, the Christians in our Northern Illinois city have prayed for the closing of the abortion clinic in town.
I have spent time down there praying during the 40 Days for Life. (God BLESS that organization!)
Some of the Catholics in our parish have been faithfully praying twice a week every week for years, missing only a few weeks during their family vacations. All weather, all year–they are there. (And we have some nasty weather here!)
Various priests and religious in our city have also been faithful to pray, and have faced derision and slander from the owner of the clinic, who posts hand-lettered signs in the windows of the clinic labelling the priests by name as “perverts.” Up until a few years ago, the owner also haranged those who came to pray by screaming insults and filthy words at them over a loudspeaker; I believe this was stopped by the city (noise pollution).
And yes, there are Protestants who are faithful to pray, too, and sing–the Protestants tend to sing! And they were haranged, too.
But I’ll be honest–I never really thought the clinic would close. I figured that all of us would receive our rewards in heaven for being faithful, but I didn’t think that it was possible for the clinic to actually shut down.
Well, you’ve guessed it–a few weeks ago, the clinic closed forever.
What nailed them is the state inspection–several serious health and safety violations. I am still shocked that the ladies who entered that clinic never got any lab testing (I work in a lab), and that there were no RNs on site. How scary for those women (not to mention the babies, of course). What kind of “choice” puts women at risk for death or serious injury/illness?!
I never dreamed that the closing would be brought about by something as mundane and secular as “inspection.” We are inspected in our hospital several times each year by several organizations, and although there have been occasional fines (mainly for paperwork irregularities), we have never been cited for anything unsafe or unclean.
And what’s even better is that another abortuary in Illinois has been shut down due to failing the State inspections, and several other clinics are in danger of closing! Here’s a link to an article that you will print out and save and cherish and praise God for: abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/apnewsbreak-ill-cracks-abortion-clinics-15406586
So when someone says, “We should pray for ______,” YES, we SHOULD pray! We should never doubt, but instead, trust God that He does hear our prayers and that He does have a solution to the problem that we see as insurmountable. I am sooooo encouraged in my faith by this huge answer to prayer!
I cannot tell you how wonderful it feels to live in a city that no longer has an abortion clinic!
BUT…our esteemed bishop has published a thought-provoking and very wise column about the need to remain vigilant and not sit back and relax now that the clinic is closed down. Here’s a link to his column that you will also print out and save: observer.rockforddiocese.org/article?id=7
Keep praying!
… fortuitous that today is the Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul.
Next is the clinic in Aurora, God willing.