Sitting outside Tesco waiting for Heather to finish her shopping, I’m a bit perturbed I didn’t catch the price I was paying for those glasses until after the fact. My anger’s diminished as suddenly I catch wind of a gentle song down the way. A mother rocks her daughter to sleep as she sings her a soft, sweet Hungarian lullaby. Back and forth she calmly pushes the stroller, the baby girl sound asleep. A sweet little angel, such a precious gift to this world-I simply smile as she tries to talk to me. I look in her eyes; I can see so much pain. I wish I could know her story. But then I look at the child-the sweet, precious child-and rejoice that at least she’s a part of it. My mind jumps back to this afternoon, standing in the hospital lobby. Everywhere I look I see pregnant women. It’s clear this must be some sort of neonatal floor or something. Many things have gotten lost in translation today but one thing I hear clearly as Steve speaks to us of this hospital-many abortions are performed here. I knew something wasn’t right the moment I stepped through those doors. I could sense the heaviness, the heaviness I could now attribute to death.
As I prayed for the sanctity of human life, I kept thinking back to last month in Romania. I felt this same heaviness there as I flipped through the Lonely Planet travel book sitting on the dining room table. Why? Why are we resorting to this?
Among the subregions of the world, Eastern Europe has the highest abortion rate (90 per 1,000). In 2003, there were more abortions than live births, 105 abortions for every 100 live births. Statistically, Romania has the highest abortion rate in the world with 3 out of every 4 pregnancies being terminated by abortion. This may actually be an understatement as only hospitals report their abortion statistics and abortions are so readily available throughout the country at both state hospitals and private clinics. Upon receiving a positive test result, a doctor is more likely to discuss scheduling an abortion rather than talking about due dates in a country where the vast majority of patients will make that choice. Hungary, though not nearly as bad as Romania, has seen an increase in abortion as a political and moral issue. In 2004, there were approximately 50,000 abortions performed, approximately 40% of all babies conceived. Compared to others in Europe, the abortion rates and ratio of Hungary are on the high end.
As I read these statistics, I begin to get sick, the heaviness once again fills my chest. Why, oh Lord, have they given up hope? Why don’t they value these lives?
I’ve been taught all my life to respect the life I’ve been given, to be grateful for each passing day. Each day is a gift from the Father above, none guaranteed, each one a blessing. Like most everyone else, I’ve taken my life for granted. I’ve lived most days like tomorrow will come, like I’ll get more opportunities and chances. But what if I don’t? What if you don’t? What if you never even got the day you have now?
For 3 out of every 4 children conceived in Romania, tomorrow will never come. They will never live to see daylight because we choose not to let them. These are precious lives that have been “knit together in the womb” by the Lord Himself. Who are we to think we have any right to abort them?
I honestly don’t know what more to say. My heart and my soul cry for these children-these lives longing to take just one simple breath. They long to be touched, to be held, to be loved. And instead, all they get is killed.
I’ll never understand as long as I live why some don’t even get a chance. This isn’t about politics. This isn’t about religion. This is simply a matter of life.
