Our P.A.L. Night letters and cards from the other evening are all sent out and winging their way towards their destination. With them go fervent prayers that our concerns will find a receptive hearing. It's been like that for almost 30 years now because P.A.L. Nights (Prayer, Action, Letter-Writing) have been a part of our pro-life ministry from the very beginning.And whether they have occurred in the basement of our tiny apartment in south Omaha, a church cafeteria or Sunday School room, a restaurant, or now in the dining room here in our northwest Omaha cottage, our letter-writing parties have always featured a few common elements: pens and cards and stationary...coffee and tea and some simple type of desert...letter targets and tips and addresses. Those are all topped off by caring friends who want to do everything they can to make a difference for Christ in their culture.
It's no surprise then that the pro-life Christians who gather to write letters are generally the same people who man the literature booths, stand in the Life Chains, take on sidewalk counseling, help out the CPCs, visit in the nursing homes, and so on. Nor should it be surprising that the issues covered in the P.A.L. Night letters incorporate things besides abortion and euthanasia. As Christians, we understand that our light must shine into all areas of culture.
And those letters must be Christ-honoring in tone as well -- fair, firm and courteous.
In addition to letters of protest and letters which ask for attention to a particular issue, we are always pleased to show gratitude for good deeds done and favors bestowed. Therefore, thank yous are featured at just about every P.A.L. Night we've ever conducted. "Atta boy" notes were thus sent the other night to Congressmen Lee Terry and Jeff Fortenberry, Senator Mike Johanns, State Senator Mike Flood and others who helped promote and pass LB 1103 here in Nebraska, and a few more.
Other issues covered included many that came from the "Taking Action" posts that have shown up here at Vital Signs Blog. They included letters urging the Nebraska Attorney General to take greater responsibility in investigating charges against late-term abortionist Leroy Carhart, protesting the shameful action of the Obama administration's joining in the persecution of a German home-school family, and asking Congressmen and the UN Secretary-General to lodge protests of Communist China's barbaric persecution of Gao Zhisheng.
Indeed, it is through the internet that most of this kind of activity now occurs. Not that there ever were many people who took the time to respond to the issues swirling around them by writing letters, but the ones who once did now utilize e-mail. That's terrific and we strongly endorse and applaud those efforts. That's why I so frequently encourage you to take such action in these Vital Signs posts and why I specifically give you the contact information and even sample letters.
We've got to get out of the habit of just moaning and groaning and complaining to one another. We've got to take our complaints to the powers that be. As we've often phrased it, we need to stop whining and start shining!
But even with the technological revolution that has brought the internet to center stage, we know there is still something particularly potent about a real letter. With its rarity, its cost, and the time investment it represents, the letter that shows up in the editor's or businessman's or politician's office may well pack a greater punch than ever before. So, by all means, use the e-mail but don't lay aside completely the persuasive power of the handwritten letter.
In fact, I would urge you to consider making it a part of your week (a half hour of quiet, a cup of tea, and two or three letters). Make it a family project. "The family that writes together is right together" -- that sort of thing. Those of you who home school could make it a part of your civics class or "socialization" activity. One adult Sunday School class that we know carried on a successful letter-writing ministry for many years, making "P.A.L. Morning" a regular part of their monthly regimen.
For more on how to go about this kind of activity and for some nifty hints about targets, technique, frequency and so on, have a look at this ancient but ever-fresh page, Tips on Letter-Writing, from the Vital Signs Ministries web site.
And, oh yeah, I've got one more trick up my sleeve to try and stimulate your interest to write letters. Maybe it'll work and maybe it won't, but why not give it a try by checking out the video clips that appear in today's first post: Please Mr. Postman, Look and See (Part One). Have fun.
