...the ponderings of a mother: The Rally

"Any society, any nation, is judged on the basis of how it treats is weakest members- the last, the least, and the littlest." -Cardinal Roger Mahony

I have been wanting to write about the rally for days! But, alas, I must remain keenly aware that my calling to the littlest in my home must supersede my desires to write on any given day. Oh, I wish that were easy for me to do! To give up my own time for another. I wish I could say that my heart was less inclined toward myself and more inclined toward serving someone else. But it is not. On my best day as a mother so far I still think I am accomplishing an amazing feat to give of myself for an hour at a time to my littlest one when our Lord gave His entire life for me. I know I am not judged in this, I am covered in grace for certain. But I know the greatest fulfillment in life is to live not for me and my own self-actualization, but to live for Another. Always in process.

Okay, enough of deep thoughts with Kimberly J….the rally! After disembarking the Metra, Father Kevin, with homemade sign in hand, led a herd of us in a downpour from Ogilvie Station to the Federal Plaza.

We were truly soaking. Thankfully about noon when the rally was to begin the rain let up and we were able to get close to the stage.

Unfortunately the power was not working, leaving us to listen to the first half of the speakers through a megaphone. “Listen” would be generous; unfortunately we couldn’t hear much of anything of the first half. But a visit from Jeff on lunch break was a welcomed surprise!

Somewhere during all that a group of zealous Catholic teens built a contraption with a huge sign that said “Life” along with hundreds of yellow balloons reading the same. Their energy was a gift.

At some point the USPS helped us out on the power issue and we had a sound system. US Congressman Joe Walsh told the crowd to “be prepared to go to jail for your beliefs.” Honestly, this surprised me coming from a congressman. Are we really at that place? My cynical mind was replaying those “scary” political email forwards as I heard his words, distrusting their foreboding sentiment. But I don’t to claim to understand fully the age we are in, so I resolve to remain true to my convictions and pray his words are made out to be foolish, aware fully they may not be.

We also heard from a man who openly said “I do not share your faith” but fully believed in the unconstitutionality of this HHS mandate and believes it worthy and important to fight for religious freedom. He reminded me of the popular quote by Martin Niemoller:

"First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out-

Because I was not a Socialist.

Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out-

Because I was not a Trade Unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out-

Because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me - and there was no one left to speak for me."

That man speaking at the rally…Jewish. Perhaps too close a reality for him. This all sounds so sensational to me, really. But so does the thought that one could be mandated to pay for the loss of life. I imagine those in another time would not believe something like this could ever be. But still, I pray the congressman’s words are seen as foolishness someday; that me attending this rally was way over the top…these ludicrous laws overturned and neither individuals nor entire groups are mandated to do what is against their conscious in a country that espouses freedom as its primary identity. Let’s pray together for this.