Yesterday was Palm Sunday, we taught the five year olds in Sunday school about when Jesus entered Jerusalem on a donkey. The people were so excited they wanted to honor Jesus so they sang out, "Hosanna, blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord." and laid their coats and palm leaves on the path in front of Him. A few days later He would die on the cross and then rise again on the day we celebrate as Easter. A large number of Americans think about attending church only twice a year, Christmas and Easter.
Last night around midnight as rain poured and began to pound on the tin roof of our mobile home, Danny and I watched live C-Span as an unusual situation caused our Congress to convene. It wasn't legislation in a bill that was 500 pages long containing tons of details that would affect millions of Americans. They met together to debate over the fate of one woman, Terry Shiavo. Her life was in the balance. On the previous Friday the feeding tube to her stomach was removed. It was a special session. They were meeting during their Spring break and the debate was coming to an end. The Senate had already passed the bill unanimously earlier in the day and now the House of Representatives would soon take about 15 minutes to vote. Finally, The majority said to pass the bill. This bill would hopefully save the life of the 41 year old woman with brain damage lying in a bed in a Hospice facility. Our President changed his schedule for Sunday and flew in to Washington on stand by to sign the 4 page bill for Terry. After he would sign a judge would be required to look over Terry's situation and then hopefully she would be placed under the care of her parents.
Terry had been in her bed-ridden state since 1990. Her now estranged husband, Micheal Shiavo, was her guardian and wanted her life to come to an end. Terry's family were continuing to fight for the rights to help their daughter. A judge in Florida, Judge Greer ruled over the case many times. Although blatant evidence would be placed before him he would ignore it and side with the wishes of Michael Shiavo. Michael labeled her as in a vegetative state and persisted to end her life. There is video on the internet and on the news that shows Terry obviously responding to people with sounds and with her eyes and with facial expressions such as a smile.
What does God think of all this? In the book of Proverbs from the Bible we learn that "For the ways of man are before the eyes of the Lord and He pondereth all his goings". Since he's is omniscient He knows the motives of every single person's heart including Michael Shiavo or Judge Greer. Also, including the congressmen and women who would use His name in a vain manner to say Terry should be allowed to go to heaven or be with God if that's what her "family", Michael, who now has a common law wife and two children with her, would choose.
Here's a big question in my head, "Why would the choice between the life and death of Terry Shiavo come up during the time of Easter? Easter is all about life. While the bright Spring flowers are blooming, baby animals are being born and Jesus is being honored who showed us the pinnacle meaning of life by rising from the dead and thus providing the opportunity for each individual to choose eternal life Terry's continued existance is being decided. Tom Delay who played a vital role in bringing Terry's bill to the congress ended the debate. He expressed it with the best summary by saying while the debate of congressmen and women continued a woman was waiting in her hospital bed thirsting and dying of starvation. It seems a lot of people have ignored this story but attitudes to not care about life that God has established shows we do not fear Him as we should. I hope this case will cause people to consider all aspects of life as important from Terry's situation to disabled individuals to unborn children.
As large crowds of Americans pack the churches this coming Sunday, I hope each would honor Jesus for what He did and they would also remember and have the attitude that each individual life has importance.