Today’s Saturday, which means we were up early doing chores before heading to the local farmer’s market. Late September in southern New Mexico still means 90° temps, so the whole park is lined with shade canopies which we all help each other set up (even though we all bought the “EZ up” versions for their claims of one person set-up.)
A customer who’d just bought one of my sourdough bagels was about to head on down the sidewalk when she was stopped by an acquaintance, and they’re struck up a conversation in front of my table. I went about my behind-the-table business of taking care of babies and putting things in order, not ignoring the women completely, but giving them space to chat.
My ears perked up when their topic turned to politics, and I quickly realized we had opposing views, specifically on the issue of abortion. I prayed silently, God, if you want me to say something, give me the words and the opportunity. Speaking up in any sort of confrontational situation with people I don’t know well would definitely be on the bottom of the list of things I hoped to do today. But I know I need to be a voice for the innocent and voiceless. I turned my attention more toward the women, ready to say something (trusting God would give me respectful but convicting/convincing words). But at that moment they said their better-be-getting-alongs, and left.
Afterwards, as I thought over the situation, I came to wish I had jumped in more assertively rather than passively waiting for my “opportunity”. What did I really expect, a “what’s your opinion, Jennifer”?
I’ve always sort of prided myself in “staying out of politics”, but I’m starting to realize that it was for avoidance/escapist/people-pleasing reasons- not wanting to upset anyone, not wanting to make noise. But there are some things worth being noisy about! I don’t want to stand silently by while people voice their support for murdering babies!
Sometimes silence is wise, but sometimes it’s cowardly. May God help me and all His people to be bold when we need to be!
Jennifer Blacklock 
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