2008 Woodie Awards
Man behind last week's sidewalk chalk writings clarifies, explains his intentions
Christopher Holtorf, Sophomore
You probably saw the various sidewalk chalk inscriptions around campus Wednesday, April 5.
During the middle of the night I wrote these messages on the cement. It took from midnight until five in the morning, and by the end of the night I had scraped my knees raw. My effort included such phrases as: "Abortion: WWJD?," "Choose Life," "Motherhood is precious," "Abortion sucks," "Jesus is Lord," "Life is God's choice," "adoption not abortion," "Abortion: Just say No," "Life is a Gift" and still others. I did all of this completely separate of any campus club or group I am otherwise affiliated with, acting on my own volition.
My primary purpose in doing so was to create a forum for personal introspection on the subject of abortion. What do you stand for? What does our society stand for? I hoped to provoke this type of self-analysis using varied messages and hopefully somewhat creative ones too.
I would like to take this opportunity to clarify an issue that was brought to my attention by a fellow student. That student felt that people may construe some of the messages as incriminating people who have had abortions. If you have had an abortion and felt this same way, I'm truly sorry. My intention was to separate the "sin" from the "sinner." Abortion is horrible and always will be, but that does not mean people who fall into that dark abyss are horrible people.
In fact, the secondary message was that Christ is the redeemer of all, and has freed you from condemnation of that sin based on his work on the cross. I want to make it clear that if you have had an abortion Christ can forgive you and welcomes you into his loving arms. Many Christians around this campus are more than willing to bear that yoke with you. Search them out, converse with them, share your feelings about your abortion with them and grieve with them. They will provide the shoulder you can rest on.
Additionally, please don't hesitate to come share your thoughts, concerns or questions with me at anytime. A lot of you know me, and I know a lot of you. I'm more than willing to discuss things pertaining to this subject of abortion with you. If you see me walking around campus at anytime just stop me, and we can chat. As it is fairly obvious, I'm an "open book" when it comes to life and when it comes to Christ. Indeed they are one in the same.
Like Jesus of Nazareth, I pray every day for that ability to endure the yoke of burden for everyone I come in contact with. And I pray most earnestly for God to give me the strength and the courage to every day lay my life down for the brethren.