January 28, 2009

These Dead Shall Not Have Died in Vain



The evening of the March for Life, after the crowds had all dispersed, the sun had set and we had all eaten our dinner, the "Awesome Group" went on a tour of some of the many monuments of Washington D.C. The first one we stopped at was the Lincoln Memorial. I was awestruck at it's size, which you would never guess from looking at photographs of it. It is huge, almost as grand and imposing as the words inscribed inside. I raced up the stairs and attempted to take photos of the statue, but alas, in dim lighting, that doesn't work so well. All blurry. Naturally, on the bus driving away from the Lincoln Memorial I discovered a setting on the camera that said "Use for taking pictures in especially dim lighting". Of course.

After I attempted to take some photos, I strolled over to the side of the monument where the immortal Gettysburg Address is engraved in the wall. Leaning up against one of the towering columns, I read the words written so many years ago, soaking it in. I read it as I always have, thinking of the Civil War, when I came to the last paragraph. I gasped slightly and read the words in a way I have never read them before. New meaning lept out at me and I re-read them again.
It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us—that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion—that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain—that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom—and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.

I read them again, and felt my eyes well up with tears. That was why we were there, why everyone there that day was in Washington D.C. Why there is a March for Life.

It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us—that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion—that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain—that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom—and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.

President Lincoln was speaking about the soldiers, but in a way, he could have been speaking about the unborn. Those children gave their lives, maybe without a choice, but they gave them anyhow.

I read somewhere once that everyone was created for a purpose, and that you will not die until that purpose, that mission is fulfilled. It is my belief that the mission of the aborted unborn children is to bring about the conversion of their mothers, to serve as an example to all those contemplating abortion and bring about their conversion, so that our nation, and the world, might someday realize and repent of the evil it has been allowing for far too long. During their short lives, they were part of the Church Militant, they were soldiers too. Now that they are in heaven, they are part of the Church Triumphant, but they are still fighting with their prayers, so that not another child will have to die in the war against The Enemy.

In the words of President Lincoln,
It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us - that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain!
We must continue the fight, those of us who were given the chance to be born, to grow up, to live our lives for the honor and glory of God.

When I read those words, my throat tight with tears, they gave me such comfort. I admit that I was struggling with disappointment at not having been able to meet up with some friends I'd dearly wanted to meet, and I was brought back to the remembrance of why I went to D.C. I was so thankful to God for not only healing my disappointment, but for reminding me of the reason I was there. Not to have fun and experience history - though I did do both as well - but to save lives. HE gave me renewed dedication to fighting for the cause.

It is my hope that all you who read this blog post, will read that last paragraph of the Gettysburg Address, and then read it again and again. Then resolve in your heart to fight for the pro-life cause

So that these dead children shall not have died in vain.

10 comments:

  1. *tear*

    Thank you, Rose, for poating that.


    I was very disapointed at not meeting you, too... and then thing that helped me was part of the sermon at Mass that morning.... the priest was saying during one part about how we always wonder and speculate and worry about what God's will for us is..you know, whether he wants us to become nuns or get married or go to college or stuff like that...but really, His will for us is what's happening NOW.

    That caught my attention at the time...and then I remembered it later, and it did help... so if we didn't get to meet, than it wasn't God's will...and that means he has something even better in store for us :-D

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  2. GAAAAH! POSTING! I MEANT POSTING! Not--not *whispers, horror-struck* poating!
    *turns pale with fear*
    Maybe--maybe it didn't hear me, though... *looks around fearfully, eyes wide*

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  3. You are welcome my starburst. =) Another thing that helped me was something my mom had said when I was trying to figure out how to go to the March: "If God wants it to happen, it will happen".
    Another thing too, I kept thinking of ways to meet Purity, and none of them worked out, and then lo and behold without my planning or even knowing, she shows up on the same bus as me for D.C.!
    So all in God's time. ;)

    *gaspeth* AHHH! I hope it didn't hear... wait, what is that?
    *poat jumps on Lanta* NOOOO! *fights off poat* Be gone!
    *poat jumps on me* HEEEEELLLP!
    *pouce comes to rescue*
    Me: phew!

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  4. Wow, beautiful reflection, Amanda!

    I actually just the other day was thinking of something similar...Kind of like "the blood of the martyrs will feed the Church."

    See you tomorrow!

    Love,
    Veronica

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  5. Amanda, this has to be one of, if not the most beautiful post I've ever read from you. A moving and deeply true reflection! Praise the Lord for allowing us to travel and march together on behalf of the little ones. May we never lose the conviction felt there!

    In the Divine Infant,
    Your (Fairy) Godmother

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  6. What a great post, DD. I was hoping you would come to the realization of why it was you were sent on this trip. Very good insight.
    God Bless!

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  7. Amanda, beautiful post. May I repost it on A Maiden's Wreath?

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  8. I really like you own interpretation! I always
    think there's more to something than meets the
    eye. Sadly, I don't think many people in key
    places will agree, but that's up to God. He
    can changes hearts in the blink of an eye!

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  9. *applauds* That was definitely the best post ever Amanda!!! *hugs* I'm glad you got to go! And the unborn will NOT die in vain!!!
    -Vicki

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  10. @ Clare - Yes, you may re-post it. :)

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