By Michelle Bauman, Director of Y4Life
I’m sure it’s happened to you, too.
You’re busy juggling tasks and checking off your long list of to do’s, busy fulfilling the vocations God has called you into. Maybe you’re finishing a project, preparing for practice, or completing chores. Perhaps you’re doing the responsible things – packing tomorrow’s lunch, checking your schedule at work, or maybe making sure you have enough gas to get to school tomorrow. Whatever it is, you’re engaged in multitasking and problem-solving and planning your next step like a pro.
And then it happens – despite the busyness of the moment or maybe because of it – a Bible passage you’ve memorized comes to mind. And you’re struck by its truth:
“I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (emphasis mine) (Philippians 1:1-3).
Those were the verses that came to mind as I stood in the back of a ballroom filled with over 550 participants at Y4Life in Washington, D.C., in January. I was preparing to walk to the front of the room to welcome our attendees. Maybe you were one of them. And it was at that moment that I was overwhelmed with gratitude.
Gratitude to God for His life-giving and life-affirming work.
Gratitude for the Y4Life and LFL team members who had been working for months to prepare for the event.
Gratitude for our donors and sponsors for helping us raise thousands of dollars in scholarships for the event.
And gratitude for YOU, the youth, young adults, and chaperones who attended. Thankful that you not only desired to be Gospel-motivated voices for life but also for dedicating your time, talent, and finances to learning about life issues and marching publicly to uphold life.
I am still deeply thankful because you were and are willing to make a difference.
I know that making a difference came at a cost. Most of you raised money or worked to fund the trip, a trip that, even with free registration, still cost you hundreds of dollars. Most of you had homework to catch up on and practices to make up. Some of you missed games and dances to be present. Yet, the choice was clear: You came to learn about life issues from a Gospel-motivated perspective and to stand alongside tens of thousands of others – For Life.
As I stood in the back of that ballroom, I couldn’t help but be proud of you for making the choice you did. Proud of you for desiring to be a Gospel-motivated voice for life. Proud of you for standing for life at your nation’s capital. And humbled to be present to see it.
But if I’m honest, I wasn’t just thinking of those in attendance. I was thinking of the youth Y4Life serves who were at home as well. Perhaps that was you. Maybe you couldn’t attend because you had other obligations to family or friends, coworkers or classmates.
In the last six years, I’ve met many youth who wanted to attend D.C. but couldn’t. At least not this year. Some stayed home to help take care of siblings. Others were helping check in on grandparents. Some youth are working a job in addition to going to school so they can supplement their family’s income, pay tuition, or purchase the items needed for life.
If that describes you, I’m thankful for you, too. You’re doing life work. You’re upholding the lives of others through your vocations.
It’s not always easy to be Gospel-motivated voices for life. It often requires sacrifice and hard work and patience. On top of this workload, the world doesn’t make life work or life-filled words easy. Taking a public stance for life can lead to shunning, shaming, and exclusion. It can mean the loss of friends, and it can create strain in families.
Nonetheless, God’s Word is clear: Life is valuable. Life should be protected. Life is a gift from God.
And as God’s people, we are called to stand firm on this truth. Ephesians 6:13 reminds us to “take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.”
Stand firm. That’s a direct order. As soldiers in God’s army, we hear what our General has commanded. We are called to stand firm on His Word despite the consequences.
Doing so alone is difficult; that’s part of what makes gathering together for Y4Life in Washington, D.C., so wonderful. Yet, we also know that we can’t always be together. Thanks be to God, though, that we are never really alone. God stands with us. He strengthens us through His Word and His Sacraments. And He gives us each other.
Whether you walked with me in D.C. or were busy doing life work at home, know that your work has not gone unnoticed. You have been an inspiration and an encouragement to many, including me. I thank God for you. Even more, I want to support and encourage you. Please let me know how Y4Life, the youth branch of Lutherans For Life, can uphold, support, and strengthen you as you carry out the work of being Gospel-motivated voices for life.
Your work is valuable. Your Gospel-motivated voice is needed. And I am confident that “he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:3).