Life

                                                                                  

Such a simple word.  Such a complex idea.

Today our government voted on a motion regarding life.  This was a controversial motion yet it really was simple.  It was challenging 400 year old wording in the criminal code determining when a person was really human.  In other words, when does someone have life?

This 400 year old wording states that "a child becomes a human being within the meaning of this Act when it has completely proceeded, in a living state, from the body of its mother.”  Therefore if any portion of a baby still remains in the mother's birth canal, that baby is not considered a human and therefore can still be aborted.  Really?  In today's society with all of our technology and insight into the development of a baby this is still considered accurate?  Really?

And so the debate raged on.  In reality if this motion had been passed (it was defeated today in a vote of 203-91) the only thing that would have happened was that a committee would have been set up to answer these questions:

1. What medical evidence exists to demonstrate that a child is or is not a human being before the moment of complete birth?,
2. Is the preponderance of medical evidence consistent with the declaration in Subsection 223(1) that a child is only a human being at the moment of complete birth?,
3. What are the legal impact and consequences of Subsection 223(1) on the fundamental human rights of a child before the moment of complete birth?,
4. What are the options available to Parliament in the exercise of its legislative authority in accordance with the Constitution and decisions of the Supreme Court of Canada to affirm, amend, or replace Subsection 223(1)?

So what is so scary about these particular questions?  Why would something like this cause an uproar with those who are pro-choice?  I can't really say because I don't know, but personally I think that it causes such fear because the answers to these questions bring with it huge responsibility.  The saying is that "with knowledge comes responsibility" right?  So more knowledge about the development of a human baby brings with it more responsibility to those of us (the entire human population) who are placed in charge of these smallest humans.  The responsibility to look beyond ourselves, beyond our selfish nature, and reach out to the weakest of the weak, take them in and protect them.

So where does that bring me today?  How do I respond to the vote today?  Well for starters I can be thankful that almost 1/3 of the members of parliament agree to looking at this topic!  (Yes I am a optimist!)  I can also write to Stephen Woodworth and thank him for bringing this topic up (and since the MP for my area voted in agreement I can also thank him, so thanks Chris Warkentin!). 

And I can pray.  If there is anything I have learned in the last month that I have been praying in the mornings it is that prayer can be answered and it can make a difference fast.  I can also join in or support events like 40 days for life and other similar types of events.  Since I am nowhere near Calgary I can't personally join in with them, but I can be there in spirit and in prayer. 

There is a lot more going on in my head right now that I can't clearly articulate into words so I'm going to leave it for tonight, but pray friends.  Pray, pray, pray.  God is working and He is working in ways that we cannot see.