Just a Drop in the Bucket…
Do you ever feel like all your efforts to end abortion are pointless? Meaningless? Insignificant? Sort of like… a drop in the bucket, as the saying goes. Actually, if you think about it…a drop of water in a bucket IS insignificant! Left alone in bucket, it is good for nothing. It is not enough to drink, or to wash with…and it will simply dry up and evaporate.
I thought of this as I was praying on the sidewalk this past Monday. It was so quiet and uneventful on a Monday morning. No one was there except David and the guard. Did it matter that I had given up my Monday morning to head into Pittsburgh?
I remember when I first became Catholic, about 11 years ago. I was reading a lot of the saints…such as St. Catherine of Sienna, St. Teresa of Avila, Augustine and others. Many of them used the analogy of a “drop of water in the ocean” to express their desire of uniting the soul to God. I must admit that I didn’t fully understand that analogy…but I think that I got a glimpse of their meaning this past Monday morning, while standing on the sidewalk at PP.
The realization came to me that it was true that my prayers on that sidewalk really were insignificant and meaningless. The abortions continued despite my prayers...so why was I there? Well, just as the ocean certainly does not NEED the drop of water…the drop of water DOES NEED the ocean! In other words, God did not need me to be there to pray at PP on Monday. No…it was ME that needed to be there to pray!
It is not God that needs us…but we are the ones who need to be connected to God. If left to our own…like the lonely drop in the bucket, we will dry up and disappear. But, if we allow our little, insignificant drop to be joined to the Ocean of God’s Love…we will live forever…no longer an insignificant drop…but a vast, endless ocean.
Andrew McCauley, the new director of Pittsburgh’s Sidewalk Advocates for Life (and now a 40 Days for Life blog writer), made a profound comment earlier this week. He said, “It really struck me at the Kick-off Mass this campaign, how much 40 Days for Life is central to everything pro-life in Pittsburgh”. I replied back to him that it makes sense that 40 Days for Life would be central to everything pro-life in Pittsburgh…because JESUS is CENTRAL to 40 Days for Life! So of course, everything else will flow from HIM!
So, to avoid being isolated...in danger of drying up...connect your little efforts to the giant, raging love of God, by joining in HIS MOVEMENT…40 Days for Life! We are only halfway through the campaign…you still have time!
Keep reading to find out who added their little drops to God’s Ocean today…
7:30-9:00- Cathy, Peggy & Mary
It was a very quiet morning, to start. Only one (too many) woman went in, refusing any help. Later, just before nine a young couple came by looking for the door. Peggy was able to talk to them. They were going for an abortion. Peggy told her to be sure to see the sonogram and then come out to see us for whatever help she needed. They listened very politely and went in. Later he came out. In the meantime at least three different women went in, one after another. Sadly, we were not able to connect with any of them.
9:00-11:00- Julie & Conrad
Many mothers with daughters went in today. Julie worked very hard speaking with many on the street and also those going in and some coming out. Thank God she was there. Randy joined us overall it was a very depressing day. Conrad
11:00-1:00 – Larry & Ken
11 to 1 shift pretty quiet. We did get a soaking rain. We offered a few ladies information as they entered PP, but they weren’t interested. Julie gave us some Sacred Heart of Jesus prayer cards to hand out, and several folks did take them. One gentleman stopped to show Ken a photo of his brand new baby. We had Reese cups to give out, and they were popular with the homeless passerby. Larry
1:00-3:00 – Judy, Chris & Kevin
I was joined today by Arlene, from St. Joseph the Worker Parish, and Kevin, my year-round prayer partner from my parish, Regina Coeli. Judy, our diligent Sidewalk Counselor, also from St. Joseph the Worker Parish, did her best to engage those entering and leaving PP and handed potentially life-saving literature to passersby. We prayed the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, three Rosaries, and the Loretto Litanies. Chris
3:00-5:00 – Steve & Eileen
Another sunny day on the sidewalk- at least long enough to take this picture! 😄Many positive interactions today- besides a couple of “God bless you’s”, and a “Thank you for being here!”, we had a return visit from a young man Chris, who spoke with us at some length about the miracle of life, and how the true strength and moral character of a nation is seen in how it protects its most vulnerable citizens. Then a grandpa-to-be stopped to talk to us about his daughter Annie, who is about to have twin girls, Sydney and Sophia- Eileen and I promised to pray for a safe delivery and health of mother and babies! A woman came by and was drawn to the banner of our lady- I started to explain it to her, and she said she was familiar- she had been to Mexico on several occasions. Only saw two “customers” enter and 3 exit with their little brown bag .. pray for the day when no one will go in! –Steve
Another young man has been coming on our shift who is supportive of saving babies. He quotes Scripture knows the difference of the political platforms. Another gal recognized Our Lady of Guadalupe. A young girl stopped to look at the fetal models and smiled. Many positives today. –Eileen