I march on Friday to proclaim that a culture of life, a culture of joy, a culture of hope, and a culture of love exist.
Movies that romanticize euthanasia and promote self-absorption — over self-giving to others — are hailed as “heroic.” Riotous individuals who set fire to limousines owned by those very souls whose rights they are supposedly clambering to protect make the front pages of our papers in the name of “freedom.”
“I give you a new commandment: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another.”
Hundreds of thousands of unborn souls are aborted each year and called not babies but “choices.” Our world is in need of all that a culture of life has to offer.
But how do we proclaim life and all of its fullness in a life-giving way, rather than stooping to fight fire with fire?
The Bible states in Proverbs 15:1: “A mild answer turns back wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” As hard as it may be, a smile might be the best weapon we have if we want to start a revolution of love. And behind that smile — an arsenal of prayers for peace, unity, and a rather archaic word, a spirit of comity.
According to Webster’s Dictionary, English clergyman Thomas Becon first used the word comity — derived from the Latin comitas, meaning “courteousness” (and probably related to the Sanskrit word for “he smiles”) — in 1543 .
Can you smile in the face of hatred, violence, and anger? Can you promote a spirit of comity, courteousness, gentleness, kindness, even when that is contradictory to how you are being treated? I am going to practice before heading out to march, and I suggest you practice, too, if you are also proclaiming that love. The author, the source, and font of all love — God through His Son, Jesus Christ — is the answer to all of life’s ills.
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As a Christian, I look to Jesus for the ultimate example of how to walk well through life. When faced with life’s most challenging circumstances, Jesus was what my mother would call “behaved.”
“But He was pierced for our sins, crushed for our iniquity. He bore the punishment that makes us whole, by His wounds we were healed. We had all gone astray like sheep, all following our own way; But the LORD laid upon Him the guilt of us all. Though harshly treated, He submitted and did not open his mouth; Like a lamb led to slaughter or a sheep silent before shearers, He did not open His mouth.” (Isaiah 53:5-7)
Smiles, backed up by prayers and a genuine spirit of love are the best offense we have to take on the culture of death that is so pervasive today.
As we march forth promoting a culture of life, joy, hope, and love, may we not forget that how we march is as important, perhaps even more so, than why we march.
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People will never remember all that we have to say (as a matter of fact, they will not even stop to listen to us if we do not have an open and loving ear to first stop and listen to them) — because in the end, they will only remember one thing: how we made them feel.
Pray, go, and smile, and let the revolution of a culture of life, joy, hope, and love begin.
“I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another. This is how all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34-35)
Dear Lord,
I pray for the grace to be loving, kind and a good representative of You. As I march to stand for a culture of Life, Joy, Hope, and Love, may I represent all I am marching for. Fill me, Lord, with Your Spirit, for on my own I will fail. Give me Your eyes to see, Your ears to hear, and Your heart that breaks for Your people.
I ask this in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Melissa Overmyer is founder of Something Greater Ministries in Washington, D.C., and has been teaching the Bible for over 30 years.
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