Persistence: a valuable lesson from the sidewalk

By the time I reached the sidewalk that day, the afternoon abortion appointments were dwindling, so I found a spot to pray. I’d prayed a few Rosary decades when commotion began stirring near the parking-lot entryway. I walked over to support the two other female advocates standing vigil.  

Soon, three abortion escorts walked over to where we were standing and encircled us while a black car containing the abortion-facility manager made its way into the street. As they retreated back to their posts, one of the advocates whispered, “Maybe they were trying to protect her?” “Weird,” I replied. But as I was saying this, something caught my eye: the last abortion client of the day was just emerging from the facility through a far door.  

I watched her slip into the parking lot of the apartment complex to the east. The parking lot, private property, typically doesn’t allow abortion-client parking, so I walked east along the sidewalk to peer into the lot, thinking maybe I could talk with her there. She was walking away, to the north, holding a little brown bag—indicating she’d likely had an abortion, or was given the abortion pill. Knowing this can be reversed, I wanted to reach her. I took a few steps forward, but an escort who’d followed her into the lot was now staring me down. “You must be here for a reason,” I said to the escort, now scowling at me.  

The young lady was still on foot, and no car had appeared to pick her up. “What lengths some will go to avoid being approached by sidewalk advocates or hide from their decision,” I thought. This likely wouldn’t happen in winter, but it was a nice day, in the 70s, and easily walkable. 

I returned to update my friends and mentioned the thought of driving to reach the woman in case I could help her. “Go for it!” one said. I jumped into my car and headed north.  

Eventually, I regained sight of her, and saw that now, another person had met up with her, and now they were walking together. She was about her age and female; a friend, perhaps. It seemed safe enough, though I knew I’d have to be especially careful with no eyewitnesses. I said a prayer while grabbing a few brochures from the seat beside me and turned right onto the small road they were just approaching. I was able to position my car directly across the street from them, stop, and roll down my window.  

“I have some information I hope will help,” I said, holding out the brochures. The friend began walking toward me, apparently curious and non-threatening. As she approached, I explained what the flyers were for. “Thanks,” she said, accepting them.  

By now, the client, a few paces behind her, seemed curious. “You a protestor?” she asked, eyeing me suspiciously. I could see her perfectly now, a beautiful girl with dark brown eyes. “No, we’re just here praying for you,” I said. “If you had an abortion, we want to help. Please call the numbers listed if you need anything.”  

Without backup, I didn’t want to linger, so I drove back to the sidewalk, but with a feeling of gratitude for this almost-lost chance. Some might have given up on the young woman and let her walk away, but how could I? Following what I call a “Holy Spirit hunch,” I persisted, even though I could barely see her, not wanting to risk her slipping away completely. 

When I shared with my sidewalk friends why I’d persisted, they marveled that I had not given up. But they also mentioned they had been praying for me, and I knew that act was just as important as my own.  

That day, in my mind, the escorts blew it. They let one get away, and I was so grateful for that; to talk to the young woman kindly, plant seeds of hope, and let her know there’s help, should she need it. It reminds me of how important it is to persist in this ministry, always remembering that “We can’t, but God can.” 

This month, several opportunities will be available to both regular pro-life sidewalk advocates as well as those who cannot join us often or at all.  

On Sept. 20, the Life Runners event will return for a second year in Fargo, starting at 9 a.m., with prayer at St. Mary’s Cathedral, continuing with a 2.7-mile walk led by a “Remember the Unborn” banner, and ending in prayer at the Moorhead abortion facility. Visit the Life Runners site to learn more and to register: www.liferunners.org. 

Additionally, the annual 40 Days for Life Fall Campaign will kick off at 10 a.m. on Sept. 24 with a prayer-filled gathering directly north of the Women’s Care Center, 220 Highway 75 N., in Moorhead. Join us, and if you can, bring a money or new baby-item donation for the area’s newest pregnancy resource facility.