I hope this op-ed finds you well. God bless each and every one of you this week in the name of Christ.
This week I saw a story that I found heart-breaking… It’s a story that the participants are trying to make a “black-and-white” tale, but as I’ve propounded many times before, the world is never black and white. It is infinite shades of grey (or gray LOL) and some stories end up as a win-win, but others end as a lose-lose story without a happy ending. Of course, as this is an OP-ED column, mine is just one pastor’s opinion expressing life as I see it. But I was invited to write it… so there we are – LOL!
It began with a California couple contracting an Alaskan woman to be a surrogate for their child. The unborn child then developed a rare heart abnormality which is usually fatal. The couple opted for an abortion (It wasn’t said, but I’m assuming, that they spent all of their hope on the surrogacy and was not ready to cope with caring for a child that was going to quickly die on them). The surrogate fled to Texas where we have an anti-abortion ban because she described herself as anti-abortion (even though technically, and legally, this wasn’t her child). This is where the story becomes headlines.
Ken Paxton, the person running for the Senate and can use any press he can get, got involved (so he can pat his own back) and decided this child must have a chance for life – no matter what. The child (a boy) was born and will undergo three operations to rebuild his heart if they can keep him alive. All of his medical procedures and constant care is being picked up by the State of Texas now – your tax dollars at work. (And, for the record, that is the least of my concerns) But all the doctors interviewed said that, even if the gamble works, he will live an entire life with “severe medical and physical disabilities” – which I take to mean that he’ll need constant care his whole life (which this California couple will eventually be stuck with – whether they can cope or not). And his life will consist of maintenance and procedures, not playing or frolicking with his friends. Yes, some children can somewhat overcome their condition to at least be happy – but that is not a common story… especially if your parents are unable to cope – which isn’t easy.
Now there are lawsuits flying in every direction as to who has say to do what and when… but my mind comes down to one question: How do we define “life”? Is it merely taking in food and keeping your heart beating? Or is it having the opportunity to develop into the person you were meant to be? Is it crueler to terminate a heartbeat that hasn’t experienced the world, or to force someone to endure mere existence for decades? It’s not black and white… It’s lose-lose. And I don’t have the answer.
Let me know what your thinking or send me a question to pastordaveumc@gmail.com
