"The Silence That Keeps Me Awake"

I wish I would have thought of this title, but I stole it from Del Tackett's blog (published Jan 20, 2011). For years I have noticed that my most "productive" thinking happens while trying to fall asleep or while driving...resulting in difficulty sleeping and distracted driving.

I like this song because the song

(1) breaks the silence on the regret, pain, healing, and forgiveness of abortion

(2) validates the pain that men experience when dealing with abortion  (Our culture seems to forget that men suffer and grieve the loss as well as women.)

(3) describes the story of a couple's journey to closure and healing

This video was not uploaded by Skillet and is not the official music video.

Skillet - Lucy (Lyrics)

Lead singer John Cooper tells the story behind Skillet's song "Lucy".  (The interview that I originally accessed over a year ago has been removed from You Tube, Air1, and Skillet blogs.)

Today marks the 40th anniversary of Roe v. Wade.  A Supreme Court decision that politicians thought would end the debate on abortion once and for all, like it had with integration.  But 40 years later, we look back at a nation still divided and struggling.

Since the decision in 1973, the Guttmacher Institute (AGI) and Center for Disease Control (CDC) estimate that over 50 million babies have been killed.  A disproportionate number of African American and Hispanic babies are killed compared to non-Hispanic White babies.   37% of women who have had abortions identify themselves as Protestant while 28% identify themselves as Catholic. Taking into account current and past rates, AGI estimates close to 1 in 3 women will have an abortion.*

Let that resonate with you. Nearly one-third of women!

Yet, the topic of abortion has largely remained out of the pulpit. Why?

Let us remember that to be silent is to act.  As Bonhoeffer said,

"Silence in the face of evil is itself evil: God will not hold us guiltless.  Not to speak is to speak.  Not to act is to act."

Lord, forgive us, the Church, for ignoring the truth surrounding abortion. For being quick to judge and not offer mercy and healing. Let us recognize that abortion isn't only a struggle for those outside the Church. Continue to rise a people among us who will speak out against this injustice. Remind us that "mercy TRIUMPHS over judgement." Amen.


* From a statistic summary on abort73.com, assessed Jan 2013. Most recent data available from 2009, released Nov 2012