A Man Tries to Save a Baby at the Library

A few days ago I was at my local library branch in the middle of the day picking up a few books on abortion for a project I’m working on. Most of the people in my local library that time of the day are homeless men escaping the elements.

An older black man walked up to me and said “you don’t have to do this.” Normally I dress pretty casually, but that day I looked like a liberal man-hater, so the mere fact that he approached me was huge. I thought it would be interesting to see where this conversation would go so I told him that I was just wanting to understand the options. In total humility he basically told me that there are no options and that I would regret it if I went through with it. He was strong and persistant, but not at all pushy or offensive.

Of course I then told him it was a project, I would never do that and invited him to join us just a few blocks away on Saturdays in front of Planned Parenthood.

I was blown away that this guy who obviously had no business talking to me laid it all right out there and politely was not going to let the topic go as long as he had the chance. Far too often I’m just way to busy to take those kind of everyday moments that impact a culture one by one. How many chances like this do we miss in an average week? How many days in line at Wal-mart or the grocery store did we have a chance to make a difference and we were just too afraid or too busy or too tired to speak up?

It is those little moments that make the difference. We have nothign to fear. If we speak up what would we lose? Is the person going to slap us right there in line? No, I don’t think so. And if we hit a raw nerve…well you will never see that person again. But what if you are just the angel that person needs? What if you really can affect them? What if your kind words or your prayers are just exactly what they need to get through their trial…or their day? There are so many ways to make a difference in this world and they all start with taking just a little bit of action. So next time you feel that inkling inside of you don’t rationalize it away. Speak up and make a difference.