Creation Care Mom

I want to warn my readers that this post mentions abortion. For some, that may be triggering. If that is you, feel free to come back next week for new content.

It is really difficult to properly care for creation without properly caring for all our human neighbors. I was told once to always vote Republican to preserve human life, as if that policy objective was the only one in the world that matters. As I’ve grown, I’ve seen the Republican party throw away its integrity, by supporting questionable, even corrupt, leadership in order to pass anti-abortion measures. As an adult, I recognized that by limiting the phrase pro-life to the matter of abortion have denied us the opportunity to be pro-life in so many other ways. Pro-life against toxins in our rivers and air. Pro-life against deforestation. Pro-life with a safety net of services to reduce suicide. Pro-life for a roof over everyone’s head. Pro-life against school shootings. The list could go on. And in every way looks a lot like Jesus.

Do I hope that every child would be born and go on to have the most amazing life? Absolutely.

In the depth of my being, pro-life is about so much more that the time between conception and birth. It extends from birth through adulthood all the way to death. It informs the decisions I make about resource use, what social services I advocate for, and how communities are designed and engaged.

For example, a child is born into this world because there was a ban on abortion. There are several scenarios from here.

Scenario 1: Her mom is a single mother, who with this unintended pregnancy has dropped out of college. With limited income opportunities, they live in subsidized housing. This housing happens to be in a so-so part of town with a highway next door and manufacturing down the street. Since this is a poorer neighborhood, the city has not invested in very much green space, the small park has run down equipment and half the trees are dead. Because there is so much concrete and asphalt in the area, the neighborhood is considered a “heat island” retaining extra heat long after dark. This makes it extra expensive to run the air conditioner. To reach an adequate grocery store, to use her WIC benefits, this mother must walk 1.5 miles each way on sun exposed sidewalks carrying her baby.

What kind of life is this? What struggle? What risks does this child face because of her circumstances?

Asthma is more common in children raised in areas in close proximity to highways, manufacturing and other particulate exhaust sources. Children with asthma have extra health expenses that burden their caregivers and sap funds from their limited income. Industry or manufacturing often result in toxic byproducts which can end up in the air, water, or soil of the neighborhood. Higher cases of cancer are very common in these neighborhoods.

Heat stress from lack of shade and the heat island effect cause and exacerbate many health issues. Sometimes resulting in death from heat stroke.

Food deserts impact all, including children receiving government support. This child may not receive adequate nutrition because of the effort required to purchase healthy groceries. Inadequate nutrition can lead to mineral deficiencies and their related diseases or a diet high in refined foods can result in overweight or obese children. Both can effect attention span and energy, ability to focus and concentrate, resulting in worse educational outcomes.

How could this look different?

Scenario 2: This single mother has chosen to carry this child to term because she is confident in the community services ability to help her carry the burden. Before the child’s birth she qualifies for subsidized childcare during her classes at the university so she can continue to pursue her degree. Finishing her degree will lead to higher lifetime wages for this mother. The city they reside in has a specific low income housing community dedicated to single mothers and their children. Though the units are small, the location is excellent. Well designed, it is away from most industrial pollution and contains a well shaded park with equipment donated and maintained by a community church. It resides on the bus line for those who need transportation while also being only one block from a quality grocery store. One building is set aside for community use allowing the women and children to gather, support each other, and celebrate together. Women who eventually move on come back often to mentor those who remain.

Can you see the difference? Here the mother chooses life because she has hope. The community will envelop her and provide her with a village of help beyond the financial support of WIC and SNAP.

Though life will still be difficult for this mother and child, better outcomes are more likely from Scenario 2.

Which of these scenarios looks more like Jesus?