Most people look. Some just drive by. Others wave or give a thumbs up. I saw only one who was trying to be rude. Life Chain gave me an hour to watch people drive by on “O” street. My sign said, “Abortion Kills Children.”

Most people in America are aware of the debate, and I suspect most would like for it to just go away: Yes, the nation is divided. No, those of fervent conviction on both sides will not be moved. So why go through with this useless exercise?

First, it is not pointless. Many people just haven’t thought about it. When I was in college in the early 1970′s and first heard the issue of abortion raised, my first thought was a completely uninformed “well, why not?” Our greatest impact can be with those who just haven’t thought about it.

Second, there are others who are watching. I saw a car drive by with some passengers that, for some reason, I had a strong sense that they were foreign nationals. Wherever you go in the world, the United States makes news. How does the spectacle of Life Chain strike a Chinese national, or a man from India, or a woman from Angola? If I were visiting another country and drove through one of their cities and saw a demonstration or a protest, it would make an impression. When I came home and people asked about my trip, that event would be part of my story.

Ultimately, even if none of the people in the cars on “O” street pay any attention, and nobody changes their mind, and no one sees, and nobody cares, Life Chain has another witness: God himself. He knows the thoughts I think, and that standing in line holding a sign prompts me to review my convictions. He knows that I tire of the issue, and that sometimes I wish it would just go away. He knows the clarity and simplicity I need: Abortion Kills Children. And I must not make peace with those things that God condemns.