It was exactly ZERO degrees Fahrenheit for the 40 Days for Life kickoff rally in Milwaukee, Wisconsin…
…and the wind chill was a bone-chilling 22 degrees below zero (-30 Celsius).
“Wisconsinites don’t cancel because of the cold,” said longtime 40 Days for Life leader and volunteer Dan Miller. “It’s a way of life here.”
That’s a good thing for unborn children. The sacrifice of praying for an hour or two in an arctic blast inspires more mothers to choose life.
When the opening vigil with Bishop Jeffrey Haines ended, Dan said a young woman appeared “out of nowhere” to hug September, who leads the campaign in Milwaukee.
“Do you remember me?” she asked.
With everybody bundled up for the weather, it was hard to tell who anybody was, so the young woman continued, “You walked me to my car [last year] and talked me out of having the abortion!”
“There was a lot of jumping up and down…hootin’ and hollerin’ and praising God!” Dan said. “These two were filled with so much joy; it was quite the sight!”
As 40 Days for Life volunteers in northern climates like to remind me, there’s no such thing as a “spring” 40 Days for Life campaign–only a winter one.
There were plenty of volunteers out in miserable weather this week.
Eugene, Oregon
“I just had to share this historic photo–snow showers in Eugene for our kickoff rally today!” said Eileen, the local campaign leader. “This has never happened before. And the photo only shows half of the people who came today to pray in the snow!”
Eileen said the event drew plenty of young people–including the leaders of a new pro-life group–while Planned Parenthood staff members watched from the windows. “We were all loving praying in the snow.”
Thousand Oaks, California
In Southern California, the Lenten 40 Days for Life campaign really does take place in springtime weather.
That’s why Leonore was so surprised when she and her vigil partner noticed SNOW! “There were little flakes flying about,” she said.
The snow didn’t last long. The record-breaking rain, however, did. “It warmed my heart to join three others holding signs and umbrellas,” Leonore said.
The King will answer and say to them, “Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.” —Matthew 25:31-46
Gracious and merciful Father, we renew our dedication to defending the unborn and all whose right to life is compromised by our godless society’s selfish lack of concern. Free us from our own failures and sins so that we will be truly pro-life in every area of our lives.
