Recently someone commented on a Facebook post about the great turnout our little prolife group has been enjoying at the Local Planned Parenthood. He had commented, “He had better things to do.”
I thought about what he said. I was originally shocked that a practicing Catholic could feel that way about the need to witness to the Love of God outside of a place that is in so desperate need of it. Then I realized most Catholics probably feel this way because let’s be honest, there are an estimated 1.5 million Catholics on Long Island and only 15 -20 people gather outside this particular Planned Parenthood each week. Now this sad state of affairs is not new but it is alarming. Why doesn’t this holocaust of the least among us matter to the average Catholic in the pew? Why doesn’t it matter to those Catholics who are a little above average? When did we get to busy to be there for those whom we were given the task of loving? When did the murder of innocent children and the destruction of the lives of the mothers and fathers take a back seat to the “better things” we have to do? When did we become so inhuman and indifferent?
So I got a little angry. Angry because after working in pro-life ministry for 14 years and being responsible for one abortion I know the pain that this “right” brings to all involved. I was angry because 99.9% of the girls who have abortions are getting them because they are scared and have no support system. They are alone, frightened and faced with a burden that might just terrify even the best of us. These girls have NO ONE. Moreover, even we, the ones who are commissioned to love them and provide for them, turn our backs on them because of the “better things” we have to do.
After my anger abated, there was a peace. I reminded myself of how often I had “better things” to do. These things were fun and provided me with hours of excitement, but things that ultimately became a distraction. Things that blinded me to the more important things in life, I was tithing the mint, dill and cumin but rejecting the weightier things of the law, Justice, mercy and most of all Love. Thoroughly convinced of my failings and reminded that we are all on the journey and there but for the grace of God go all of us, I did what I should have done as soon as I read the above comment. I prayed.
“I have better things to do."
Yes. And so do I actually.
Most people have better things to do. I have ‘better’, things to do as well. I could sleep late and watch a movie with the kids. I could make a great pancake breakfast for the family. I could take then to the archery range and work on our shooting. I could take them to the park, the zoo, the library. Why not throw them in the pool…with their pajamas on? Hit the slip ‘n’ slide? Have a BBQ? Go to Friendly’s for breakfast? Play Ball? Yes, there are myriad things we could be doing on a beautiful summer Saturday morning so why in God’s green earth would I subject my family to standing outside an abortion mill to pray the rosary? I am sure they aren’t having as much fun doing this as they would any of those other things? Is it worth the effort to stand there when it is obvious that our prayers really won’t help anyway? What if some person, who disagrees with our peaceful presence, decides to drive by waving the middle finger and cursing at us? Do I need to subject my family to that?
Yes, there are plenty of "things" we could be doing other than praying outside of Planned Parenthood but all those things, though they are fun, simply cannot measure up to teaching our children the most valuable lesson we can.
My wife and I are parents. Catholic Christian parents. We believe with every fiber of our being that we are responsible before the eyes of God for the five little children he has entrusted to our safekeeping. You see, although God is pleased when I play with my kids or teach them valuable skills, I know in the end, he is expecting more from me than just teaching them to catch or play a game. He wants them to be saints. He wants them to be formed in the image of His Son and His Son, Jesus, gave us the way to do that. Our Lord made it clear that in the end, it will not be our skills with a pencil or a stock profile that will ultimately matter, but our love (Matt 25 31-46). In Particular our love towards our neighbor and I know of no better way to teach children how to love their neighbor then getting them in touch with a neighbor to love. So while playing games or doing chores or just spending time with the kids is awesome, teaching them that there are more important 'things' to do than just doing 'things" is the most amazing gift I can impart to them.
The way I see it is simple. The main thing in life is Heaven. Falling in love with Jesus and living in His love so as to be welcomed into the Eternal embrace of the Trinity is the main thing. There is nothing more important than that and I want my children to know that and believe it with all their hearts. So simply put, the main thing in life is to keep the main thing the main thing. By losing sight of the main thing, everything else falls apart. Life has a sacred dignity; it has a remarkable meaning to it. The meaning of life is to learn from Jesus that only by the giving of ourselves will we truly find out who we really are. Without the opportunity to be a gift to another, we lose the horizon of life as a gift. Once we lose that the only person we choose tom live for is ourselves. We may intentionally or unintentionally come to this point but however we arrive here, it is no less damaging to our hearts and souls. I was here for most of my life. I know the pain, the desolation that darkens the mind and heart in this place. I do not want that for my children or for anyone for that matter, so I do what any good father does: I teach them by example.
My wife and I are teaching the children that their time and their prayers are valuable, they have meaning; their sacrifices have a purpose and an effect on the world they live in. We are teaching them that despite all the other “things” we could be doing, we are CHOOSING to do something better, together. We are choosing to love, to pray, to stand in witness to the fact that although these women are choosing to bring death into the world, we will bring life. To the darkness of Planned Parenthood, we bring light. It is a quiet, humble light’ a misunderstood often vilified light, but it is light nonetheless and it would not be shining there if not for us. By our peaceful presence outside this place, we bring hope to these beautiful women who carry the beautiful gift of a unique and unrepeatable human life within their tired, frightened bodies. They see us and see hope, they see the love that is denied them in every other relationship and maybe, by the grace of God, that silent love we show will be enough to change a heart and save a life.
And what “better thing” is there in this whole world than saving a life?
That’s the lesson we choose to teach our children That’s the choice we make to exemplify what is important in this world. That’s why we stand and pray outside of Planned Parenthood.
So yes, we all have “better things” to do.
But why not choose to do things better?
I thought about what he said. I was originally shocked that a practicing Catholic could feel that way about the need to witness to the Love of God outside of a place that is in so desperate need of it. Then I realized most Catholics probably feel this way because let’s be honest, there are an estimated 1.5 million Catholics on Long Island and only 15 -20 people gather outside this particular Planned Parenthood each week. Now this sad state of affairs is not new but it is alarming. Why doesn’t this holocaust of the least among us matter to the average Catholic in the pew? Why doesn’t it matter to those Catholics who are a little above average? When did we get to busy to be there for those whom we were given the task of loving? When did the murder of innocent children and the destruction of the lives of the mothers and fathers take a back seat to the “better things” we have to do? When did we become so inhuman and indifferent?
So I got a little angry. Angry because after working in pro-life ministry for 14 years and being responsible for one abortion I know the pain that this “right” brings to all involved. I was angry because 99.9% of the girls who have abortions are getting them because they are scared and have no support system. They are alone, frightened and faced with a burden that might just terrify even the best of us. These girls have NO ONE. Moreover, even we, the ones who are commissioned to love them and provide for them, turn our backs on them because of the “better things” we have to do.
After my anger abated, there was a peace. I reminded myself of how often I had “better things” to do. These things were fun and provided me with hours of excitement, but things that ultimately became a distraction. Things that blinded me to the more important things in life, I was tithing the mint, dill and cumin but rejecting the weightier things of the law, Justice, mercy and most of all Love. Thoroughly convinced of my failings and reminded that we are all on the journey and there but for the grace of God go all of us, I did what I should have done as soon as I read the above comment. I prayed.
“I have better things to do."
Yes. And so do I actually.
Most people have better things to do. I have ‘better’, things to do as well. I could sleep late and watch a movie with the kids. I could make a great pancake breakfast for the family. I could take then to the archery range and work on our shooting. I could take them to the park, the zoo, the library. Why not throw them in the pool…with their pajamas on? Hit the slip ‘n’ slide? Have a BBQ? Go to Friendly’s for breakfast? Play Ball? Yes, there are myriad things we could be doing on a beautiful summer Saturday morning so why in God’s green earth would I subject my family to standing outside an abortion mill to pray the rosary? I am sure they aren’t having as much fun doing this as they would any of those other things? Is it worth the effort to stand there when it is obvious that our prayers really won’t help anyway? What if some person, who disagrees with our peaceful presence, decides to drive by waving the middle finger and cursing at us? Do I need to subject my family to that?
Yes, there are plenty of "things" we could be doing other than praying outside of Planned Parenthood but all those things, though they are fun, simply cannot measure up to teaching our children the most valuable lesson we can.
My wife and I are parents. Catholic Christian parents. We believe with every fiber of our being that we are responsible before the eyes of God for the five little children he has entrusted to our safekeeping. You see, although God is pleased when I play with my kids or teach them valuable skills, I know in the end, he is expecting more from me than just teaching them to catch or play a game. He wants them to be saints. He wants them to be formed in the image of His Son and His Son, Jesus, gave us the way to do that. Our Lord made it clear that in the end, it will not be our skills with a pencil or a stock profile that will ultimately matter, but our love (Matt 25 31-46). In Particular our love towards our neighbor and I know of no better way to teach children how to love their neighbor then getting them in touch with a neighbor to love. So while playing games or doing chores or just spending time with the kids is awesome, teaching them that there are more important 'things' to do than just doing 'things" is the most amazing gift I can impart to them.
The way I see it is simple. The main thing in life is Heaven. Falling in love with Jesus and living in His love so as to be welcomed into the Eternal embrace of the Trinity is the main thing. There is nothing more important than that and I want my children to know that and believe it with all their hearts. So simply put, the main thing in life is to keep the main thing the main thing. By losing sight of the main thing, everything else falls apart. Life has a sacred dignity; it has a remarkable meaning to it. The meaning of life is to learn from Jesus that only by the giving of ourselves will we truly find out who we really are. Without the opportunity to be a gift to another, we lose the horizon of life as a gift. Once we lose that the only person we choose tom live for is ourselves. We may intentionally or unintentionally come to this point but however we arrive here, it is no less damaging to our hearts and souls. I was here for most of my life. I know the pain, the desolation that darkens the mind and heart in this place. I do not want that for my children or for anyone for that matter, so I do what any good father does: I teach them by example.
My wife and I are teaching the children that their time and their prayers are valuable, they have meaning; their sacrifices have a purpose and an effect on the world they live in. We are teaching them that despite all the other “things” we could be doing, we are CHOOSING to do something better, together. We are choosing to love, to pray, to stand in witness to the fact that although these women are choosing to bring death into the world, we will bring life. To the darkness of Planned Parenthood, we bring light. It is a quiet, humble light’ a misunderstood often vilified light, but it is light nonetheless and it would not be shining there if not for us. By our peaceful presence outside this place, we bring hope to these beautiful women who carry the beautiful gift of a unique and unrepeatable human life within their tired, frightened bodies. They see us and see hope, they see the love that is denied them in every other relationship and maybe, by the grace of God, that silent love we show will be enough to change a heart and save a life.
And what “better thing” is there in this whole world than saving a life?
That’s the lesson we choose to teach our children That’s the choice we make to exemplify what is important in this world. That’s why we stand and pray outside of Planned Parenthood.
So yes, we all have “better things” to do.
But why not choose to do things better?
Ted Gentile praying outside of Hempstead Planned Parenthood
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