In the fall of 2021 I was announcing the play by play of a local football game around my hometown. Both teams, in the first half, were rather evenly matched. However, as the second half started, it became apparent that one team simply had, as my father says, more “horses” to rotate into the game allowing, especially for their linemen, precious minutes of respite before returning to the field and exhausting themselves once more. The team having the smaller roster had no such luxury and it began to take its toll. The linemen would crash into those of the larger, much more rested team and as the clock ticked on, the amount of time they were able to hold back the defense became less and less. Their best was, at that moment, simply not enough being that their strength was absolutely gone. At one point a time-out was called and, at least to me, it was obvious that the hefty linemen of the smaller team were slower in making their way to the sideline. One of them in particular was totally exhausted and could not rise any further than to one knee. He repeatedly tried to stand further, but could not. All he could do was look toward the sideline where his teammates were getting much needed water. I felt for the young man especially if no one noticed and he had to keep playing with no water or rest at all. Finally, an unlikely thing happened. The physically smallest young man on the field saw his teammate’s predicament, grabbed a water bottle, and ran to his side. Once there, the player hastily reached for the water and started to drink only stopping to catch his breath. As he drank, the water boy patted him on his shoulder pads. After the player drank his fill, the smaller fellow, who was outweighed by close to one hundred pounds “helped” the lineman to his feet and to the sideline where he was able to have more water and a couple of minutes of much needed rest. I was watching to see if any of the water boy’s teammates or coaches noticed what he did and, to my observation, none did, though I have no doubt the smaller young man did not do what he did to be noticed.

For some reason this scene which, in retrospect, must have only lasted for twenty to thirty seconds has continually returned to my mind. Over the past few weeks I have finally figured out why. After a year and a half of standing on the sidewalks in front of abortion clinics I have experienced many instances of discouragement which also took many forms. Some were emotional. “Is this really making a difference?” or “The opposition is so large, what can I possibly do alone?” Some were financial. “Would there be enough funds to continue effectively?” Some were aimed at my absence from the daily lives of my children who remain at home. “I’m not finished raising two of our kids. How dare I be gone for days at a time, standing on a sidewalk hundreds of miles from home, in a strange city, calling out to people, most of whom do not think they need my help.” A few weeks ago, as I sat pondering all these questions simultaneously, my mind returned to that scene last fall with the lineman and the water boy. What I realized was that apparently the big, burly high schooler had exhausted himself and was not able to continue until he had been aided by an unlikely teammate who, though not able to stand on the line could most certainly and willingly help to ensure that someone else could. Who was more important in that scenario? The answer is an emphatic “both of them.” Simply put, the water boy had proven he was just as much a part of the team as the lineman himself. At that point, a small voice in my heart said, “You have a team you are not totally aware of yet. This is not about you. I am doing this and I am just getting started.” As I pondered this scolding I had just received, I felt an easiness and peace blanket my heart. I knew at that point I had to set my sights forward and that the good Lord and the “team” would make themselves known when He saw fit.

My wife, Laura, and another friend had been telling me for quite a while that all I needed to do was follow God wherever He led me and simply have faith that the ability and resources to do so would be provided. In short, do what the mother of famous frontiersman, David Crockett, told him repeatedly to do, “Be sure you are right and then go ahead.” As I picked up my phone to tell Laura what had just transpired in my mind and heart, literally in that same second, I received a message and photo from her that showed me the team of which I did not know only minutes before was beginning to coalesce. In a couple of hours I received two other calls from people, one to whom I had never spoken, telling me of unique and extremely helpful ways they very much desired to help. After arriving home I had a conversation with one of our sons. In the midst of explaining these concerns of mine, he interrupted me and simply said, in typical Lewis frankness, “Dad, we got this! Now go save some babies!” Needless to say, in less than a week I was standing one thousand miles from home pleading for the lives of unborn children and feeling the strength of the team behind me. I absolutely believe those people who provide for Beyond The Pews For Life in many, many different ways are just as much a part of the team as I am and I pray I never let this escape my mind. I thank you from the bottom of my heart not only for assisting us, but also for following God’s leadership yourselves as He humbled my heart through your efforts. Next week I will travel again to Colorado to carry on this mission, but it will not be just me. It will be all of you standing there with me.

I never would have been able to conceive that, as I walked up that hill last year to do what I thought was broadcast a football game, there would actually be a life lesson taught to me by two boys who never knew, or for that matter cared, that I saw them. Both on the same team. Both pressing towards the same goal. It will forever be what God revealed to me after seeing the lineman and the water boy. Thank you and God bless you all. I am truly thankful we are on this team together, fighting FOR LIFE while humbly and determinedly spreading of the love and truth of Gospel of Jesus Christ.