When I was single, I was once told that since I was not married ...that I knew nothing about the value of family.

It was my impression that I was born into a family ...and I am one of six children.  At the turn of the millennium, we celebrated with our parents ...their 50th wedding Anniversary.  They taught me something about love and commitment ...and sharing (one bathroom while the eight of us lived there).

I am thankful for the upbringing that I've had ...and I did not feel so ill-equipped to get married, having not experienced it before. Experience has its boundaries.  I know people who've been married several times ...whom I don't think are any better prepared for the conversation of marriage.

Last evening we were watching the news on TV, and there was a small panel speaking on the legalization of marijuana.  One person was citing what he believed to be facts, as they were given, about the effects of marijuana.  At that point, one of the panel members pointedly asked if he had ever smoked marijuana ...as if to challenge whether he knew anything at all what he was talking about if he had not ever smoked it.  The panel member to whom the question was directed, quickly said that he had indeed smoked marijuana before ...seemingly feeling he was giving credibility to his claims because of the fact that he had experienced it.

No guy who wants to continue to hold his social ground will ever say he knows what it is like to be pregnant.

But, tell me if you know anyone who knows what it is like to be aborted.

I've seen movies of monster creatures chasing people ...and the fleeing people usually take refuge in a cave or something.  The creature usually has long claws that reach into the cave or other hiding place ...and the claws come extremely close to those attempting to flee the danger and survive. But, they didn't usually reach the people and somehow the plot developed where the people got saved.

In an abortion, the claws do reach the one trying to survive ...and the defenseless baby gets ripped to shreds. How many of you can say you know how that feels??

Back to the conversation of whether we should legalize ...let's just ask, whether we should legalize anything that was previously illegal??

Suffrage, the right to vote, is one thing that needed to change. The Civil War was fought to attempt to change something very wrong --slavery --that was deeply ingrained into a mixed-up society.

In view of overcoming some horrific wrongs, and the shock of facing past admissions of guilt we often develop a selective tolerance for almost anything that we fear can lead to a label or accusation that could group us into that dreaded past.  Sadly, that has led us to accept those things that are very wrong in themselves. And yes, as I mentioned before, abortion is one of them.

• Each year, half of all pregnancies in the U.S. are unintended and half of these are terminated by abortion

A 2004 study reported that women listed the following among their reasons for choosing to have an abortion:

• 74% Having a baby would dramatically change my life

• 48% Do not want to be a single mother or having relationship problems

January 22nd 1973 the Supreme Court of the US removed the ban on abortions ...and that year approximately 3/4 of a million abortions were recorded. That increased the next year, and in the third year there were over one million recorded abortions for that year alone. For the first recorded 20 years there were an average of one and a half million abortions recorded each year.

But, abortion is not really at the root of the problem.  I recall working with teens at Fairlawn Center ...an institution I feel I am not defaming, as it has not been in existence in this millennium.  Many of the memories, good and bad, will probably live with me the rest of my days here on earth.

One of the moments that have had a significant impact upon me was when a mother came to pick up her daughter for a weekend pass.  The nurse hollered out, "Wait, here's her medication!"

The Mom turns around, "My daughter is not on any medication."

The nurse holds the medications in view as the Mom looks to see what this is about.

Mom adds, "I was never consulted about any medications."

The nurse attempts to assert her professional judgment, "You are very much aware that your daughter has been quite promiscuous."

Mom asserts herself, "Yes, I am aware of that ...but my daughter is also quite aware that I don't approve of that behavior.  She is also aware that she can get that same prescription at the corner drugstore if she so chooses to continue to go against my wishes.  What I am not going to do, is give her this medication, as if showing her that I am in support of what she is doing."

I heard this, and I silently applauded the Mom for what she said and stood for.  And I am also aware of the comings and goings of our present society ...no, I have not lost touch of what is going on. Yet, I too believe that though we understand the magnitude of such behaviors ...we should not adopt the attitude of "if you can't beat 'em, join 'em".  It is in embracing wrong values that our society gladly steps out on that slippery slope ...as we feel the recreational value of it, committing ourselves to a downward ride.  

Abortion is mostly a result of our society's promiscuity, coupled with a lack of commitment among couples ...and a lack of commitment towards the standards we're called to adhere to in the Bible.  By not acknowledging this, we will never get to the root of the problem.

I firmly believe that dropping the standard, does not even out the status quo ...the standard will only drop further, and quickly.

Aspirations are not absent ...they mostly need direction. Most people want to make a difference if they can ...though few of us would feel good about making a negative impact, being instrumental in a huge failure, or not being able to have a chance to fix mistakes we have made.

I hope that our youth can see where we've truly succeeded, and where we've failed ...and I pray they can discern between the two & make a difference.