All in a Name

They said he refused to listen to anyone. They seemed to think that if I went there and just called out his name, which was very unusual, he might be surprised and come over to talk to me. They said his name was Cornelius Harris Bartholomew (not his real name). I wrote down his name, knowing I would never be able to remember it. I wondered who I could get to go for me because the reason I wasn’t already at the clinics was because I was home with a severe case of stomach flu.

I made several calls, but I was not able to reach any of the other counselors. (This was before cell phones.) They had apparently already left for Surgi’s abortion clinic. Reluctantly, I got dressed and left for Hillcrest. Feeling shaky and oh so sick, I had to stop a couple of times at gas stations to use the restroom. He had said their appointment was for 8:00 am. I knew I might miss them.   

Then I got stuck in a traffic jam which was unusual for a Saturday, even in Atlanta. I figured I was too late to catch them before they went in. It was now 9:15. I thought maybe I would be able to find him in the parking lot as he was waiting for her. Then maybe I could encourage him to go back inside to talk to her. I was feeling miserable but I kept on going.

When I arrived, there was no one in the parking lot. I had been kicked out of this clinic by angry employees many times before. They never called the police on me, however, so I went inside. The nurse was standing holding the inner door to the back room open for a young woman and a very tall man. I quickly looked at the paper with his name and called out, “Cornelius Harris Bartholomew!” He turned around, came over to me and said, “Yes?” Trying to hide my shock that this was actually him, I encouraged him to go outside with me. The nurse, angry at me, demanded that I leave with him right now!

Once outside, I mentioned the name of his friends and asked him to please understand that they called me because they cared about him, and not to be angry at them. Looking puzzled, he said he didn’t know who I was talking about.

Ignoring his response, I went on to encourage him to bring his wife out and go home and enjoy their little one. He never said a word the whole time I was talking to him. He just stood there with a puzzled look on his face. He suddenly nodded and said, “You’re right, I need to take her home.” He went back in and brought her out.

She came out clinging to his arm and looking up at him with a “my hero” look on her radiant face. After thanking me, they turned to leave. Once again I referred to his friends by name. I told them they would be so glad they chose life. He looked at her, shrugged and said, “I don’t know who she is talking about.”

I left for home thanking the Lord for sparing the child, and this sweet couple from horrible regret. I was also grateful my stomach flu had suddenly gone.

When I got home the telephone rang. It was the couple that asked me to go to Hillcrest. This time they called to apologize for giving me the wrong information. They found out their friend had lied when he said they were going to Hillcrest. They were actually going to Surgi and unfortunately, she had the abortion there.

Now it was my turn to be puzzled.

When I told them what happened at Hillcrest, we realized that the Lord had orchestrated the whole thing. I had to actually thank the Lord for the stomach flu since that played a part, along with the traffic, to cause the delay in my arrival. If I had been there at 8:00 and had not found them, I might have left before they arrived. As it was, they were seconds from disappearing through that doorway and into the back room.

And that name. Two men by the name of Cornelius Harris Bartholomew in the same city, a couple of blocks from each other, both going for abortions an hour apart? The Lord knew that the first Cornelius Harris Bartholomew wouldn’t have listened anyway, but He knew the other one would!

Lord! How do you do it? To You and You alone be all the glory!!!   

For with God nothing will be impossible.

Luke 1:37

Would you like to read about more miracles the Lord performed while intervening for a life on the sidewalks of abortion clinics? Go to: karenblackmercer.com/store to order my memoir, Only If God Says So!  for a reduced price and FREE SHIPPING

Thank you.

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