The Abortion Question

Let’s call it something like life begins with the first breath of air.

As I have since come to understand the dynamic, life begins with the first breath of air. That is when the infant becomes an independent, living being. It is on the first breath that soul and celestial components take residence; the first breath brings life and grounds the spirit, the spark of life. We are children of creation, and it is this first breath that establishes the celestial and physical relationship of the life in question.

These days, I tend to think of political issues, hot buttons certainly, in personal and individualistic terms. I consider the direct effect and impact of the pros or cons upon myself, my loved ones, and the individuals living in my community. I try to take into account the emotional, spiritual, and physical attributes of the policies involved.

Women give the consequences of a night’s romance much thought. They live their lives and make their decisions while taking responsibility for all resulting actions. They must live in this society and work to establish a life to call their own. Their requirements, and the criteria they set, lead them to responsible decisions.

Others will choose as they will. And well they might consider the impact of their decision. For this decision lies not lightly on her shoulders, as well as on the many others, of caste, age, and circumstance, who find themselves at a crossroads in their lives. Yes, there are those who may abuse or take lightly the weight of such decisions. There will always be such individuals. Throughout the course of time, as far back as the pharaohs of Egypt and the citizens of Rome, there have always been those who have faced choices like hers and made decisions like hers. There always have been, and there always will be. These decisions are deeply felt, whether one chooses to bear a child or not.

Those who must choose do so with tender consideration. Their way is written within the law of the land. The law exists out of necessity, in recognition of how it is now and how it has always been for child bearers throughout time. And so it is. The choice becomes law, shaping the emotional, physical, and spiritual health of society.

Beliefs come and go. Cultures pass. When healthy, they evolve as new truths are understood and new customs are woven into the fabric of society. We may never fully know the truth when it comes to the beginning of life. Will we? So what remains for us when we are met with opposing viewpoints, shaped by beliefs long held by many?

Actions resulting from decisions on this issue are deeply personal. They are never taken lightly. They are made by individuals living real lives, while others stand aside and observe. We do not have to know the absolute truth about when life begins in order to trust and respect the one who must decide. It is the decider’s life. It is the decider’s decision. It is both the burden and the exaltation of that responsibility.