There's a group of ladies who were wrapping up their 8-week Bible study with an evening celebration. And I had the great joy and blessing of giving the talk that evening.
The main point to the talk? Our spiritual friendships begin as practical encounters that blossom into spiritual and mystical (mystery of Christ) encounters --- but they are not meant to stop there. No, the really amazing thing is they are meant to bless the Church, to become ecclesial. And when they become ecclesial, they become a blessing to the whole world. Spiritual friendships, centered on Christ...
...they are sacred, and almost Sacramental.
It was a great evening. But it gets better. The women "get" it. Check out the email I received last night. This is what they have been doing this week. I tried to read it to my husband, and I couldn't get through it without crying. Very moving.
Today a few of us went down to Planned Parenthood to pray and participate in the 40 days for Life program. There was constant traffic in and out of Planned Parenthood as we held our signs, prayed, and walked the sidewalks. Then around 10:00 two women walked out of the building and one of them started waving a piece of paper and yelling out to those of us that were on the sidewalk "I didn't do it" over and over. We of course were elated and started cheering for her. When they drove to go out of the parking lot we were gathered around the entrance and they stopped and she said again "I didn't do it". I walked over to the car and through her open window she showed me proudly the paper she had been waving earlier...it was an ultrasound picture of "her baby" as she called it. We all cheered for her and told her how proud we were of her making the right decision. I handed her the resource booklet telling her there is help available for her and her baby. It was such a wonderful moment...a life was spared this morning. Praise be to God!
Denise,
ReplyDeleteWe were so blessed to have you with us to celebrate that evening! It is amazing how the story of the seven of us on a sidewalk fighting for life in a peaceful prayerful way has made its way into so many lives via email, radio, and of course the social networks! This womens choice has ignited hope and rallied the prolifers to keep fighting the peaceful and prayerful way...Guided by God and filled with the Holy Spirit!
Your sister in Christ,
Pamela Bruce