Note: This entry is not appropriate for children, immature adults, or those with short attention spans. Be at least over 18 mentally before continuing.
Austin caught the nation's attention with a pair of pink tennis shoes and an ongoing ethical-political debate. Protesters, hoopla, and a woman willing to stand up for an idea: Lifetime couldn't write a better chick-lit movie plot. Frankly, my dear, I give a damn... but I've been trying to purposely ignore all of it.
Quite a feat since I live in Texas.
A recent Facebook post put up by a friend blew that attempt to smithereens. A picture made its way online of a 14 yr. old protesting the current Texas legal stance on abortion. She'd holding a sign baldly stating, "Jesus isn't a dick, so keep him out of MY VAGINA!" The post caught my attention, and the story attached, well-presented, very fair.
Even as a left-of-the-middle Christian, that statement felt like absorbing the impact of a sideswipe car wreck.
My first response was knee-jerk and childish; I balked at a 14 year old being at a this kind of protest. Where are her parents? Why is a child being exposed to such an adult, weighty topic? Does she even understand the words she's written on that glaringly pink piece of poster?!
My second response was to breathe.
After talking with God and thinking about it, a few points solidified:
But now that His name's been evoked... where is Jesus in all this?
Right in the middle, trying to get the two extremes to remember souls housed in bodies exist on every side of the debate.
Stances on abortion tend to run a spectrum, but generally group into three:
As a former fetus, survivor of rape/incest, and a Christian woman, I feel I have a unique voice to add to this conversation, as well as the right and responsibility to do so.
My abuser preferred oral, and the abuse happened before I was old enough to have kids. I was lucky - I know I am. Had I been older before I finally escaped, or had my abuser been differently sadistic, I may have been one of those young ladies entering the clinic, praying for God to understand and for His followers to stop calling me names.
Being raised in an especially conservative faith among rather unforgiving congregations wouldn't have helped. At that point, I was the only person in 5 congregations of hundreds who came from a family who divorced while in church.
I cannot imagine how being faced with real, undeniable evidence of incest rather than just the academic idea would give that community of faith an entirely new depth to the idea of wishing to have full control over one's body.
Which raises the point: if a woman has been raped or sexually abused, how does any community give her the power of choice, control of her body back to her? How does a community of faith especially do that, while honoring the fetus' right to live?
The answer ideally is the same: Provide information, options. Check in, be present. Help her see where she came from so she doesn't have to go back. Love her. Be the proverbial village.
Acknowledge and internalize the fact 1 in 3 people - male and female - are currently victims of sexual abuse, which means that grey area of exception will only grow. Work that problem.
Be the friend and lover she deserved to have had in the first place.
Even those outside the community of faith passionately debating the right of choice over the sanctity of life acknowledge Jesus isn't a dick. Perhaps if the Church dealt with people more holistically, less as individual body parts, with dignity and respect, they wouldn't think we are.
Austin caught the nation's attention with a pair of pink tennis shoes and an ongoing ethical-political debate. Protesters, hoopla, and a woman willing to stand up for an idea: Lifetime couldn't write a better chick-lit movie plot. Frankly, my dear, I give a damn... but I've been trying to purposely ignore all of it.
Quite a feat since I live in Texas.
A recent Facebook post put up by a friend blew that attempt to smithereens. A picture made its way online of a 14 yr. old protesting the current Texas legal stance on abortion. She'd holding a sign baldly stating, "Jesus isn't a dick, so keep him out of MY VAGINA!" The post caught my attention, and the story attached, well-presented, very fair.
 |
| Photo courtesy of XOJane.com |
My first response was knee-jerk and childish; I balked at a 14 year old being at a this kind of protest. Where are her parents? Why is a child being exposed to such an adult, weighty topic? Does she even understand the words she's written on that glaringly pink piece of poster?!
My second response was to breathe.
After talking with God and thinking about it, a few points solidified:
- This has happened. I cannot change it; I can only decide how I will respond to it. This is true because I was given the choice. It's my responsibility to make wise choices.
- A fourteen year old future-woman attended a political protest - with her parents. Her dad stands beside her, encouraging her right to voice her concerns and doubt of the political system - contrary to what resonates as overwhelmingly popular. That should thrill every fair-minded individual everywhere.
- But although she's 14, she may not be a child. I don't know her story, her experiences. From the picture and the quotes, there is no way to know why she has a passion for this particular cause.
- Finally... Jesus isn't a dick. Literally or figuratively. (Obvious as it seems.) As offensive as it is to minimize a holy figure to a single body part, how much more would He, as a Teacher, be hurt one of His followers called a child a whore in response?
But now that His name's been evoked... where is Jesus in all this?
Right in the middle, trying to get the two extremes to remember souls housed in bodies exist on every side of the debate.
Stances on abortion tend to run a spectrum, but generally group into three:
- A woman should have the right to control her own body.
- Abortion is an appropriate option to safely end a pregnancy in cases of rape, sexual abuse, and/or incest.
- The fetus' right to life should be honored. Always.
This political cause appears to be about control and convenience, but rests weightily on people: their choices, pain, needs. Exceptions can't reasonably be made for cases of rape, abuse, and/or incest without a conversation about the causes of rape, abuse, and/or incest happening, too.
My abuser preferred oral, and the abuse happened before I was old enough to have kids. I was lucky - I know I am. Had I been older before I finally escaped, or had my abuser been differently sadistic, I may have been one of those young ladies entering the clinic, praying for God to understand and for His followers to stop calling me names.
Being raised in an especially conservative faith among rather unforgiving congregations wouldn't have helped. At that point, I was the only person in 5 congregations of hundreds who came from a family who divorced while in church.
I cannot imagine how being faced with real, undeniable evidence of incest rather than just the academic idea would give that community of faith an entirely new depth to the idea of wishing to have full control over one's body.
Which raises the point: if a woman has been raped or sexually abused, how does any community give her the power of choice, control of her body back to her? How does a community of faith especially do that, while honoring the fetus' right to live?
The answer ideally is the same: Provide information, options. Check in, be present. Help her see where she came from so she doesn't have to go back. Love her. Be the proverbial village.
Acknowledge and internalize the fact 1 in 3 people - male and female - are currently victims of sexual abuse, which means that grey area of exception will only grow. Work that problem.
Be the friend and lover she deserved to have had in the first place.
Even those outside the community of faith passionately debating the right of choice over the sanctity of life acknowledge Jesus isn't a dick. Perhaps if the Church dealt with people more holistically, less as individual body parts, with dignity and respect, they wouldn't think we are.
