On our knees outside of HHS

Friday was a beautiful, sunny afternoon in Washington DC. I boarded the Metro to head to Union Station and then would walk a half mile or so to Constitution Avenue.  There were many years when I took the Metro to downtown DC everyday for work, now I use it only occasionally.

I arrived at Union Station with only fifteen minutes to make my appointment. I was a excited and perhaps a little apprehensive about the experience ahead. 

I threaded the construction around the station, looking more like a tourist than a resident.  The city was bursting with dozens a school groups who were visiting our Nation's Capital.  This third day of Spring felt more like early summer.  As I quickly walked, I had to take a moment to enjoy the beauty of the Cherry Blossoms that had peaked and soon would create "pink snow" in DC, as the beauty of the flowers gives way to common place foliage.

I notice the numerous barriers that were put in place around the US Capitol after September 11th.  I suppose the barriers will never seem "normal" to me.  Scurrying down 3rd Street, I know I am headed in the right direction.  There are many people walking with signs, also men and women dressed in various forms of black and an occasional man in robes.

I arrive at the plaza in front of the Health and Human Services Building just three minutes after Noon. The organizers of the Stand Up For Religious Freedom Rally in DC were welcoming the crowd.  It looked to me like there might be 500 or 600 people. A little disappointing, and yet a good crowd.  I noticed the crowd varied greatly.  There were students, families, women of all ages, a mix of ethnicities, although the majority of the crowd was Caucasian and some clergy and religious.

Several speakers made introductory comments.  The organizers of the DC rally specifically selected mainly female speakers to talk about religious liberty. Once the Rally actually began they noted the size and I was delighted and surprised when I turned around to see the crowd behind me.  My guess is that there were between 1000 and 1300 participants.

Some of those who work for the HHS were looking out the window.  My favorite part of the rally was that we began with prayer, on our knees.  Although we were because religious freedom is a necessity, protected by the First Amendment, we would humbly begin with a heartfelt prayer to our Lord for our cause.

The speaker that most impressed me was Star Parker, the president of the Center for Urban Renewal and Education.  She gave her personal testimony and explained the choices the mandate forces non-exempt religious employers to make: “Bow your knee, pay a fine, or close your business.”

The environment was joyful and enthusiastic. Although some of the signs were angry, for the most part it was a time to voice our opinions in this land of the free and home of the brave.  After an hour, it was time to head back to Union Station and my everyday life as wife and mother.  As I walked past the Capitol, I said a prayer to the Lord to thank Him for freedom and to petition Him to keep our freedoms in tact.