Part of our Crossroads Walk experience is for each walk team to pray in front of an abortion clinic on Saturday mornings. On Saturday, June 6, 2009, our Southern Walk Team was able to pray in front of the abortion clinic in Tempe, AZ. It was sunny hot day to pray on the sidewalk for over an hour. Despite the fact the the clinic was closed for the day, we stood in a peaceful and prayerful manner in our "PRO LIFE" tee-shirts to be Witnesses for Life. We were not the only people praying on the sidewalk. There was an older woman who spent at least 45 minutes praying the rosary, as she walked on the sidewalk which bordered the clinic.
While we were praying the rosary, the Divine Mercy Chaplet and a Litany for Pro-Life during the hour, many passing cars honked their horns and shouted their support for us being outside the clinic. For other passing car occupants, there might have been some questions as to why we were present or maybe "wasting our time" with praying outside the building. Yes, some people shouted in opposition to what we were doing, and even one passer-by shouted in a loud voice that we were "terrorists", but that did not stop us from our time of prayer and reflection.
I truly believe our Southern Walk Team was making a difference. We stood as a witness in the heat of the late morning to the notion that something bad and tragic happens in this building during the week, which destroys the life of an unborn baby through abortion.
Our presence did touch the hearts of a Hispanic couple who walked by us. They took a moment to thank each of us personally for being there and then said a prayer for us to keep doing what we are doing. That was one of the greatest gifts for me during my time in front of the clinic.
I look forward in the upcoming weeks to continue this Saturday Morning prayer exercise of praying in front of an abortion clinic. I also remember that we are not alone. Our fellow walkers on the Northern and Central Walks are doing the same thing to promote a Culture of Life which Pope John Paul II had challenged the youth at World Youth Day 1993 in Denver, CO by going into the streets and proclaiming the Gospel of Life.
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