Monday Whatevers

September 6, 2021

Hello, Friend! 

It’s Monday, so… inspired by on one of my favorite bits of the Bible, let’s start every week off with a little bit of whatever’s good and noble in the world. Here are a few excellent and noteworthy things I’m seeing in the world right now. Some are beautiful, promising, and reassuring. Some are poignant, thought-provoking, and necessary. All of them add to a greater knowing of God’s presence in this world, within our humanity, and out in the great beyond. And, they all prove there’s an abundance of spectacular, breathtaking tangible and intangible cosmic matter between us. 

Please feel free to share in the comments whatever is good that you’re seeing in the world as well.  

Blessings,
Marcie 

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This past week there’ve been a lot of social media conversations about the new Texas abortion law. I too had my say with a post I shared on Friday announcing our September Womanist Book Club selection. Though I didn’t have many who reached out via DM, I did have two that were heartfelt and earnest. Neither inquiry was seeking to change my point of view or even to inject their own, but both wanted to sincerely understand. So I thought I would share some true things about the pro-life movement and abortion rights. 

One thing I feel is super important to say is that I am only one person with my very own personal take. There are many opinions out there, and for the most part, I’m not seeking to change individual opinions. My aim is to dismantle structures, ideologies and institutions that oppress human rights. 

Of course, I want every baby to thrive from the womb to the grave. But we do not live in a world that supports life at every stage, and we certainly don’t live in a country that aims to do so. My take is that to be a true pro-life advocate, you must advocate for all lives – the lives of women who choose to have abortions as well as for the unborn lives in their wombs. It’s much more nuanced than simply preaching either side of the argument, which is why I feel having an abortion, or even having a baby, isn’t a human condition that can be judged or understood from the outside looking in. Both are life experiences that rest solely between God and mother. 

I believe with my whole heart that God is big enough, merciful enough, wise enough, compassionate enough, and gracious enough to walk through all circumstances with those who bear the imprint and reflection of the Imago Dei. It doesn’t mean that I think abortions are great or wonderful. Of course not – no person wants to be in any situation that involves death. It’s a terribly tragedy and grief that many women have had to mourn. And if you happen to be one of those women, I need you to know that God is for you and loves you and sees you and sings over you, too. Period. You are so, so, loved. You don’t need any human’s permission to thrive, or anyone’s forgiveness for any circumstance you had to face in order to survive physically, mentally or financially. 

Lastly, I was thinking about all the things I don’t understand about God, such as why Job’s children had to die. Why did Pharaoh’s son have to die and all the Egyptian first-born sons? Why did all the sons of Judea, two-years and younger, have to be slaughtered? What does God have to say about the Massacre of Innocents, including those who were slaughtered in wars? Jesus gave us the answer: “The greatest commandment is to love God with all your heart, soul and mind. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.” The more we love our neighbors and care for their whole lives like we care for our own—wanting every person to have equitable access to jobs, childcare, healthcare, education, clean water, clean air and the right to pursue love and happiness—and the more we practice removing the plank from our own eyes and not judging others, the fewer abortions there will be, with more lives thriving, from the womb to the grave. Peace.

WHATEVER IS TRUE…

• Politico: The Real Origins of the Religious Right

• OAH: Abolishing Abortion – This History of the Pro-Life Movement in America

• The Nation: The Long History of the Anti-Abortion Movement’s Links to White Supremacists

• ACLU: The Racist History of Abortion and Midwifery Bans 

• The New York Times: When “Black Lives Matter” Is Invoked in the Abortion Debate

• National Library of Medicine: Perceiving & Addressing the Pervasive Racial Disparity in Abortion

• Mississippi Today: Fact Check – Gov. Bryant’s Claims About Abortion Numbers & Black Women 

• Throughline Podcast: The Evangelical Vote

• NPR’s Morning Edition: Evangelical – Religious Right Has Distorted the Faith

• The New York Times: Why Women Getting Abortions Now Are More Likely To Be Poor

• Fatherly: Who Gets Legal Abortions in America? Mothers. 

• The New York Times: Women Have Always Had Abortions 

• Kaiser Foundation: Racial Disparities in Maternal and Infant Health: An Overview

WHATEVER IS HONEST…
People: 28 Celebrities Who Have Shared Their Abortion Stories to Help Women Feel Less Alone

WHATEVER IS JUST…
Upside Down Podcast: Maternal Justice with Cessilye Smith

WHATEVER IS PURE…
Headspace: Kindness – How to Be Nicer to Yourself
Headspace: Meditation for a Healthy Body Image 

WHATEVER IS LOVELY…
A Network for Grateful Living: the ghosts of women once girls by Aja Monet 

WHATEVER IS GRACIOUS…
Movieclips: Mister Rogers & Jeff Erlanger
TV Hall of Fame:Mister Rogers & Jeff Erlanger

WHATEVER IS EXCELLENT…
Transmission Films: Tea with the Dames (find it on Hulu)

WHATEVER IS WORTHY OF APPLAUSE…
Vulture: Titus Burgess –Poor Unfortunate Souls

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May your week be filled with whatever is true, honest, just, pure, lovely, gracious, excellent, and worthy of praise.

Much Peace,
Marcie, BCWWF