Luky;
WHEN we first began to hear about the possibility of abortions - hitherto regarded as a criminal offence - being legalized, some hidden association of ideas brought to my mind the topic of euthenasia.
To my surprise I then found out that others I know feel the same way, and it frightens us.
From our point of view, legalized abortion, no matter how strongly we feel about it, is an academic issue, for no one succeeded in persuading your mother or mine to do away with us during our sojourn in their wombs.
Should euthenasia ever become legal, however, who guarantees that the powers to decide our fitness to live would cast their vote in our favour?
Euthanasia can become a most confusing issue.
There is sometimes a temptation to regard it as a good thing instead of the evil it is.
Personally I have had many a domestic animal put out of its misery by the vet, and I find human suffering as affecting as that of animals.
To see a person in pain can wring one's heart, specially if you have a more than nodding acquaintance with pain yourself.
If there were no question of a spiritual principle, something might be said in favour of mercy killing, as this evil is sometimes euphemistically called.
This is where the rub lies.
The people who advocate euthenasia clearly deny the existence of God Who gave humankind the commandment; "Thou shalt not kill."
By deciding that this disabled child or that person who lingers in agony should be destroyed, they are in effect saying that there is no God, for if there were He would not be slipping up in His job.
Such people are spiritually impoverished, and we ought to pray for them, while making sure their plans fail.
When you think about it long enough, you arrive at the conclusion that God is often able to effect an inner conversion in the hearts of His people when - together with a measure of time - He companions people in their times of psychological and physical suffering.
We all need this inner conversion, not only hardened sinners but also the little sinners.
But we seldom take the time off for it till we are forced to do so by circumstances which neither our power nor our money can control.
Illness of a loved one, a mental or physical challenge in one of our children, or personal physical pain and approaching death melt our self-importance and superficial values.
All the paltry values, once thought so important, change.
"All my children will receive higher education" becomes:
"I wonder if my child will ever learn to talk."
And: "My husband just has to get that promotion, come what may!" changes to:
"If only my husband's life is spared, how happy we'll be again."
Personal pain and the certainty of approaching death bring to mind the pain of Christ Who was crucified for each individual, showing how little we did in return and granting an eleventh hour opportunity of making amends.
We must make our Lord as least as sad as our more difficult children make us.
He longs to admit us to Heaven, but only our inner conversion can prepare us.
When this process seems to take a very long time, there must be a reason for it - and we must not let euthanasia destroy it.
Our Lord has not forgotten us or our patients.
He does not need us to teach Him His job. 
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