So how do we navigate through an issue that\u2019s laced with passion, emotion and conviction? How do we talk about a topic that is nothing short of a rhetorical, ticking time bomb?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The so-called \u201csides\u201d aren\u2019t talking; they don\u2019t seem to know how to any more. Hence, they only insult and scream. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
But geesh\u2026 we can\u2019t even agree on who the \u201csides\u201d are\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pro-Life vs. Pro-Choice<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Pro-Choice vs. Anti-Choice<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Pro-Abortion vs. Pro-Life<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Pro-Women vs. Pro-Birth<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n We even fight about what to call each other. We then judge the other side, exonerating self in our decision to stop listening to, learn from, and sadly, respect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Friends, walk with me here for a minute, through the ticking time bomb. I pray my gentleness and respect will be evident to all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Throughout my life I\u2019ve been in different places on this issue. I have grieved with those who have made the choice \u2014 and grieved with those who did not. I have grieved the stoppage of a beating heart \u2014 and I have grieved the lack of compassion offered to one who has stopped it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I am troubled, too, by the extremes. As with most issues, there are extensive middle perspectives. Adherers of these convictions are typically more silent than the rest, as the extremes are always louder. But on abortion, especially, that middle is incredibly messy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n According to Pew Research, about 20% of America believes abortion should be <\/strong>illegal <\/strong>in every and all circumstances<\/em> and about 30% of America believes it should be legal<\/strong> in every and all circumstances.<\/em> That means the 20% would not allow abortion in cases of rape and incest, and the 30% would allow abortion any time in those nine months. That leaves 50% of us somewhere in the messy in-between.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I mentioned that throughout my life I\u2019ve been in different places on this issue. The primary reason I have had trouble discerning what I believe and having peace with my own conviction is because I have been deeply disturbed by the behavior of those 20 and 30 percent. <\/p>\n\n\n\n There are all sorts of angles to consider here\u2026 the angle of the mother\u2026 the father\u2026 the baby, fetus (or whatever name one considers most expedient to support their perspective)\u2026<\/em> not only those three, but also the angle of the great big God of the universe. What does he require of us?<\/p>\n\n\n\n My sense is the reason for the screaming is the tendency to accentuate solely one of the above angles. So let me humbly ask the obvious: aren\u2019t all angles in play?<\/p>\n\n\n\n What would happen if each of us learned to consider the other three angles?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Would we learn more? Would we grow? Would we come to a solution?<\/p>\n\n\n\n We don\u2019t have to necessarily change our conviction or opinion, but wouldn\u2019t it be wiser if we actually had compassion for all? But I believe in respect and compassion for all. That\u2019s not the same as compromise, as it remains true; we can\u2019t \u201csplit the baby in half,\u201d so-to-speak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But we can learn to listen better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We can learn to have more compassion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And we can learn in making our gentleness and respect evident to all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Respectfully\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n AR So how do we navigate through an issue that\u2019s laced with passion, emotion and conviction? How do we talk about a topic that is nothing short of a rhetorical, ticking time bomb? The so-called \u201csides\u201d aren\u2019t talking; they don\u2019t seem to know how to any more. Hence, they only insult and scream. But geesh\u2026 we … <\/p>\n
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\nI get it. It\u2019s a tough issue; it\u2019s hard to talk about. It\u2019d be far easier to ignore and insult instead of wade through the ticking time bombs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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