I haven’t blogged much lately. My mat leave ended in March, I started a new job as Executive Director of Canadian Physicians for Life on March 30th, and I’ve been trying to get used to my new life circumstances. I’m working from home, which permits me to be around my son all day long. I feel pretty lucky. These are pretty much my ideal circumstances.
But my PWPL blogging has been light. I hope to remedy that in coming weeks. I’m just struggling to find a new rhythm.
I attended the Christian Medical and Dental Society conference this weekend in Calgary. It was an amazing conference attended by passionate, pro-life physicians. I heard all kinds of inspiring stories. A couple shared how they have been serving in the pro-life movement together for 50 years. One physician shared how she had been attacked for her beliefs. Another shared how he served his patients to the best of his abilities while abiding by his conscience.
I respect these physicians more than they’ll likely ever know. I can’t imagine how tough the schooling and residencies must have been. (In fact, I spent a lot of time asking them how they did it. With my health limitations, I would have never survived either.) Being a physician is a hard calling, I imagine, but it’s a beautiful one. And now, with their professional regulatory bodies stripping them of their conscience rights, these doctors face additional challenges. I’ve prayed for pro-life physicians for years, and I’ll continue to do so.
I had a moment to share my heart with them during the conference, but it wasn’t quite enough to express my deep gratitude. I wanted to tell them that their courage and commitment to the sanctity and beauty of life – of all lives – emboldens myself and others to commit ourselves further to this fight to protect life.
In September, Ann Voskamp wrote the following words, which I’ve copied into my prayer journal. I’d love to share these words with Canada’s pro-life physicians:
You can hear it about this time of September, breathing warm courage into our exhausted places: “Just Call to Me. I guarantee I will answer you. I will make you strong & brave.” (Ps.138:3)
Be Brave. Hold out your Light to hold back the flood of dark.
Be Brave. Your bravery wins a thousand battles you can’t see because your bravery strengthens a thousand others to win their battles too.
Be Brave. And do not pray for the hard thing to go away. But pray for a bravery to come that’s bigger than the hard thing.
Be Brave. There are angels closer than you know.
Thank you, pro-life physicians, for abiding by the Hippocratic Oath, for respecting life and being willing to fight in order to protect it. Thank you for your courage. Thank you for being brave.
photo credit: August Moon via photopin (license)
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Congratulations on the new gig