One of my favorite conversations from a television show came from one of my favorite shows, Sports Night, the show about those who produce a Sportscenter-type program. In one episode we find out that something will soon happen that one on-air personality, Casey, would not like very much. His on-air partner, Dan, repeatedly asks Casey what he will do about the situation, what his battle plan is. Eventually, exasperated by the repeat questioning, Casey gives in and says that he is going to use Napoleon's battle plan. Upon further questioning from Dan, Casey explains that it is a two-part plan: "First, we show up. Then, we see what happens." Dan decides that this means that Casey has no plan.
I often feel like Dan when I consider what we do as prayer volunteers outside abortion facilities. Some people have been trained as sidewalk counselors on how to reach those considering an abortion. From my eyes they know how to act, what to say, how to get attention from those they are trying to help. Those people have a battle plan. I, on the other hand, know none of those things. The only things that I really know how to do out there on the pavement are make comments to amuse myself and my friends; recite those prayers I have memorized and read those that I have not; and be present. Every week I suffer from the fear that I am walking out the door with no battle plan. I presume that many who have considered praying out there with us have felt the same thing, and their fear of looking lost has prevented them from joining us.
At times like that, I like to remember Casey's statement of Napoleon's battle plan.* Though there are times when detailed planning is important, for what we do as prayer volunteers the two-step plan is right; in fact, the most important step of any such plan is the first step. "First, we show up" is a statement that all who consider themselves pro-life need to ponder. How do we show up? More directly related to my original point, Where do we show up? I have made it a point to put prayer on Saturday mornings as my "showing up" for the pro-life movement, but that doesn't have to be the only answer. Volunteering for pro-life political groups (or politicians, even), working with local pro-life pregancy centers, and even just being a good parent who teaches her children right from wrong can all be considered "showing up" along these lines.
I think it's important to think about this question always, but especially now, as 40 Days for Life events are about to kick-off and new seasons--TV, football, playoffs-- are beginning. How and where are you showing up? Think about it. If you aren't, come on out on Saturday mornings and pray with us for a while. We'll put it on the ledger for you, promise.
* Note: most of Napoleon's battle plans were much more, well, planned, than Casey seems to think. That the plans weren't actually Napoleon's has little bearing on this post, except to point out that Francophobes can rest a little easier knowing this doesn't actually come from France.
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