Toronto March for LifeI joined Edmonton Against Abortion in their door-knocking project last Wednesday. The evening temperature was -11°C and I wasn’t sure how many people were going to come to their doors. There were lights on in many of the houses we approached, but either no one was home or whoever was inside wasn’t coming to see who was outside. Instead, we left postcards. We were heading up the walk to our last home of the hour. So far, three doors had opened but the people who met us were too busy, too sick, or too young to have a conversation with us.
We rang the bell at this last house and a middle-aged man came to the door. I like to start conversations at the door in this way: “Hey there, my name’s Meagan and this is [Rebecca]. We’re in your neighbourhood doing a human rights campaign. Can we ask you a few questions?” If they agree, I then follow this with, “Great, thank you! We’re focussing on the issue of abortion, what do you think about abortion?”
When this man, Darren, realized that we were speaking about abortion, he teared up right away. He said he didn’t want to talk about abortion, but explained how his ex-girlfriend had had an abortion 7 years ago, and that that had been the case of the end of their relationship. I told him that I am sorry for his loss and asked him if he’s had an opportunity to talk about the abortion with anyone before. He said he had and that it always results in tears like this. I pointed to the Choice42 website on the back of the postcard in my hands and shared with him how Choice42 can help him find an organization in Edmonton where he can go for post-abortive support. I emphasized how one of my friends who’s had an abortion found it so valuable to talk to people about her abortion and how she found healing. At that, he pointed to the tears on his cheeks, and said, “Yeah, I obviously haven’t healed.”
After we shared briefly about why we were going door-to-door doing this campaign, he thanked us and said he was going to check out Choice42’s website. Through my own tears, I wished him the very best.
Darren was the reason that we came to that street. I pray that he is granted the healing which he is now seeking. In a country where abortion is used to kill nearly 300 boys and girls each day, the impact is immeasurable. When we go out to have conversations, it’s likely that we’ll speak to someone who’s been personally and directly involved with an abortion. If a person shares with you his or her personal experience, there’s no script for the conversation which follows. Still, there are some important principles to include: show them you love them, ask them how they are doing, and point them in the direction of post-abortive help.
