The Tower of Babel

                Brixton is a remarkably noisy place to be. The high street in particular is on the routes of surely a dozen buses, and the emergency services plough their way through it so regularly it seems they have a schedule like the buses. Add to their blaring sirens the standard hooting, honking and beeping of all manner of vehicles vying for supremacy on the road, and there is rarely a moment’s silence. There are few places in London, it seems to me, that have so many people from different countries, cultures, and social spheres colliding. In fact, it’s all rather like the Tower of Babel. No-one understands each other, nor do they seem to care because they are all just trying to be the loudest, the one everyone can hear.

                Right in the middle of this there are two or three people praying quietly. Every now and then they burst into a rendition (with varying degrees of success) of some hymn or other. Yes, you guessed it, it’s the 40 Days for Life vigil!

                This little corner of the world, a frantically busy crossroad with a church, a park, a mini supermarket and a bevy of bus stops is a great representation of the world as a whole, especially in connection with the abortion crisis. People of all cultures are hurt by abortion; it slithers through all boundaries; religious differences, political divides, financial standing, and it wreaks havoc. So many people who don’t understand their own views, let alone anyone else’s, and all of them competing in a shouting match to be the dominant mindset. For some it’s all about politics, for others abortion is a woman’s right.

And there are the pro-lifers. We’re not perfect (Some of us can sing, and some of us can’t). Sometimes we say the wrong thing, sometimes we hit the nail on the head, and sometimes we recognise when we need to be silent. But in general, what we’re doing is the right thing. We’re not trying to shout people down, we’re just there as a witness for others whose voices are never heard, and we’re there for all the people who pass us by, either ignoring us, mocking us, or ranting at us for half-an-hour (and we thought the singing was bad). Because one day they might just stop blocking out every one else by their incessant hollering and look at what we actually stand for; an end to the hurt of abortion, an openness to the joy of life, of parenthood, and a promise to stand by any woman who needs help to raise her child.

                Because, one day, the Tower of Babel that is our culture of death will topple. I think I’d rather be part of the relief mission, not one of the people who was on it as it fell.

Nathanael

The 40 Days for Life Prayer Vigil in Brixton, where we reach out to expectant Mums, will run for 12 hours a day, 8am to 8pm, seven days a week from Ash Wednesday until Palm Sunday. If you could spare an hour or more to come and pray with us, it would be of great help. The vigil takes place at the corner of Brixton Water Lane, London, SW2 5BJ. For more details or to book to attend please contact Gabriella on 07745711064 or 02077231740

For details about 40 Days for Life Prayer Vigils in Reading, Ealing, Southend, Liverpool, Nottingham, Glasgow, Leicester, Bournemouth and Sheffield see here and for the rest of the World see here

Archbishop John Wilson of Southwark leading the prayers in Brixton.