From hostility to hope: what I saw from the sidewalk at Life Chain

My column in Oct. 12 Edition of the BC Catholic.

The roar of the black car’s gunned engine did not drown out its male driver’s angry, shouted words as he sped past our Life Chain on the Moody Street sidewalk in front of St. Joseph’s church in Port Moody.

“Garbage,” he screamed. “Absolute f---ing garbage.”

It wasn’t the first such verbal assault we heard that afternoon in response to our pro-life placards, and it wasn’t the last, either.

But it was the one that got me thinking about how vulnerable we were as we stood there, protected only by our flimsy cardboard signs and our prayers.

Thoughts of April’s Lapu-Lapu Day massacre in Vancouver sprung to mind, followed closely by memories of vehicle-driving madmen mowing down pedestrians in countless terrorist attacks throughout the world.

It could happen here, I thought. And so, as our parish’s Life Chain organizer, I decided to pay closer attention to all incoming traffic. I was briefly concerned about one motorists who pulled a U-turn in the middle of the block, and was relieved to see he was simply looking for a parking space.

I also shifted the focus of my prayers from ones responding to the culture of death to ones about the safety of the three dozen men, women, and children standing alongside me.

As well, I prayed for the mental and spiritual welfare of the angry men and women who spewed hatred at us as they drove by.

It occurred to me that every one of the epithet-hurlers was opening a dialogue. I was proud that our contingent’s response in each instance was a silent, peaceful, and prayerful one. It must have frustrated the haters. Or maybe it gave them pause to reflect.

I’m no psychologist, but I know enough from introspection and from raising children that angry outbursts can be manifestations of guilt or unresolved issues. Maybe our non-confrontational, peaceful responses got them thinking about life issues in ways they didn’t anticipate. Let’s hope so.

As our hour neared its end, a serious-looking elderly gentleman on a personal-mobility scooter came zipping up the sidewalk towards us. I braced myself for a confrontation.

“What’s all this about?” he said. After I explained, his face brightened, and he told me that he was raised Baptist but certainly supported Catholics in our opposition to abortion and euthanasia.

In fact, he said, if abortion had been legal in England when his mother was pregnant, he would surely not be here today. “I’m glad I’m alive,” he said. “Thank-you for what you’re doing.”

We chatted for a few more minutes about how grateful he was to live in a nearby subsidized seniors’ residence, and I invited him to reach out to us if he ever needed anything.

As he turned and scooted away, I realized that the end of our exchange coincided with the conclusion our Life Chain hour. It was a good note to end on. As our group wrapped up, I thanked everyone for their participation and congratulated them for having the courage of their convictions.

We may never know what impact our demonstration had, I said, but we should be confident that it will be a positive one. When we put our faith into action, good must surely flourish.