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35.
Life and Death Matters
·
Before Us
In life there certainly are profoundly sad events
which prohibit a parent from fulfilling a God-given duty
so deeply cherished. This letter to his unborn child,
published original!y in the
Christian Herald,
was found
on the body of a soldier (no further details are known):
My child, sleeping now in the dark and
gathering strength for the struggle of birth, I
wish you well. At present you have no proper
shape. In time and through the life of your
mother, whom I deeply love, there will be
something in you that will give you power to
fight for air and life. Such is your heritage, such
is your destiny as a child born of woman -- to
fight for light and hold on without knowing why.
May you seek always and strive in good faith
and high co.urage in this world where men grow
so tired.
Ke~p
your wonder at great and noble
things like sunlight and thunder, the rain and the
stars, the wind and the sea, the growth of trees
and the return of harvests. Keep your heart
hungry for new knowledge; keep your hatred of
a lie; and keep your power of indignation.
Now I must die, and you must be born to
stand upon the rubbish heap of my errors.
Forgive me for this. I am ashamed to leave you
. an untidy world.
In thought, as a last
benediction, I kiss your forehead. Good night to
you -- and good morning and a clear dawn.
The letter is so deeply resolute: a parent
courageously laying down his life for a real, and yet
un.born, child. In this monograph we deal with quite
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