Valueing Life
Sunday was “Sanctity of Human life Sunday” which serves as a say set aside to acknowledge that all lives, especially the unborn lives, are valuable. Monday was Martin Luther King Jr. day, a day set aside to honor the birthday of a man who fought for the rights of oppressed African Americans. He was a man that was villainized in his time, and is now remembered for the way he challenged the belief that Black Americans were less deserving of rights freely given to whites in this country.
It seems like a coincidence that these two days should fall so closely together. But coincidence or not, the realization brought tears to my eyes. Life is scared. All lives. My heart felt overwhelmed as I meditated on the amount of people in our country and the world that do not have a voice. I felt gratitude that someone somewhere was passionate about making these days of remembrance a reality. And I felt hopeful that this be the year that ignites our passion to stand up for those who are pushed down and out.
And then another emotion crept in. One that maybe others have but is not as glamorous to publicize on days like those.
It was conviction.
Many, many times in various seasons of my life. Even very recently, I sat with the Lord asking Him to remind me and affirm to me that He sees me. I have seasons where I doubt my worth. And I go to the Lord seeking validation. So many of us do the same. We have seasons where the world is making us doubt His love and purpose for us. We ask so often God, “Do you love me? Am I important?”
And that is ok. He is happy to affirm us. He is patient and kind, and knows we need reminding. God never sighs in frustration when we bring Him our doubts.
But sometimes I wonder if He would loving respond, “I love you dear one. You are cherished by me. But so are they…”
I wonder if He would lift up our chin and ask us to look around.
We are valued. We are loved. We are empowered by His Spirit. And because of that we can find get up and take our eyes off of ourselves.
It is sad to me how many times I have run to the Lord asking if I am valuable, and how few times my conversations with Him have been about the value of others.
God loves us, and He wants to use us to love others. We pray often about our own lives, but we can also talk to God about others lives. We can pray for justice. We can pray for reconciliation. We can pray for those that are oppressed. We can pray for our own hearts and those of the Church to have eyes to see these things as well.
As we have been given a gift of remembrance, let us take a minute to step back. To look up and see those around you who are devalued and have no voice. Those same people who are actually valuable and strong and have purpose. Ask the Lord how you can come alongside them.
We were saved to proclaim the Lord to those around us. When those same people are fighting and hurting, how can we turn a blind eye.
We can’t solve the world’s problems. But do not be discouraged, we can still stand up for what is right. We do not need to have a plan, we just need to start with prayer. Prayers of gratitude for those that the Lord has created to live with us on this earth. And prayers for their good. Then see where God leads from there.
Do not let these moments of remembrance leave you unphased. Lean in. Trust that the Lord loves us and is at work. He is inviting us to look up and look around.
