JMJ. It should come as no surprise that I'm reading another book which was recommended to me by my dear friend, Jan. It's called unPlanned, by Abby Johnson. I'm only halfway through it but I knew right off the bat that I'd have to pass on this review to others. It's dynamite--the story of a young woman who came out from the shadows of a career with Planned Parenthood in the abortion industry into the bright light of the pro-life movement.
To say the least, this is at the same time both a harrowing and joyous account of one woman's road to Damascus. My own road was no less sinful but not nearly as dramatic. I began working in the operating room as a registered nurse in 1974. Our hospital at the time did abortions on a regular basis. I was one of the few nurses who would help. Not only was I not pro-life, I'm not sure if I was even Christian. Through the grace of God (I can admit that now) my shadows were not nearly as intense and not as long-lived as Abby Johnson's.
One of the most controversial topics in the abortion debate at the time was what constituted life. Was a fetus in possession of a soul and thus worthy of protection or not? The pro-abortion folks said no and of course the pro-life folks said yes. I said, "I don't really know." But my nurse's training said that if in doubt, err on the side the angels. That is, if one isn't sure if something is contaminated, assume that it is and start over. If one doesn't know if a piece of equipment is working properly, assume that it is not and find a good one.
Since I didn't know if a fetus was fully human and possessed of a soul I had to assume that it was and therefore act for his or her protection. I quit assisting with abortions. I wasn't knocked off my horse like St. Paul was. I kind of slipped off, not with a blinding flash but more a dull "thunk." I'm not yet to the point in the book where Abby Johnson leaves Planned Parenthood but I know that she did and that she joined a group called the Society of Centurions. As it states in their credo: "The Centurion who stood at the foot of the cross of Christ suddenly became horrified at the crucifixion he was ordered to carry out. When Christ died, this Centurion dropped his sword and fell to his knees exclaiming, 'Surely, this was an innocent man!'"
I, too, am a centurion. I have confessed and been forgiven but I can never forget the lives I have helped to take. All I can pray is, "Dear children look with mercy on this poor sinner." Amen.
