Physically Stepping Out in Faith

Karen Estep describes how God asked her to physically walk the walk recently. The March of Life is not only a spiritual act of faith, but a physical one too. 

When an amendment to protect unborn babies did not pass in Missouri recently, I knew I could no longer be just a bystander. I was heartbroken and maybe feeling a little guilty. I used to think that there were certain circumstances where terminating a pregnancy was legitimate. However, after going through RCIA and learning that the way a child is conceived has nothing to do with the baby's inherent human dignity, I changed my mind and my heart.  

The day after the election I spoke with a coworker who heads up the pro-life group at the high school where I work. I asked her if she needed another sponsor and was quickly invited to help out with the group. What I thought would be a local take-action situation became a "we’re going to the March for Life in Washington, D.C." situation. I was swept up in preparing and planning for travels I was not entirely sure I was ready to take.  

Taking a Step Out in Faith

As the day of travel crept closer and closer to happening, the more nervous I became. We live in a world of complete uncertainty, and the March for Life happened to be taking place four days after the presidential inauguration. As much as I wanted to go and help support my students, I also really wanted to make it home to my own family. Then I got sick and almost chose not to go — but in the back of my mind I kept hearing, “Take a step out in faith.” So that is what I did: I asked for prayers of healing, for safe travel, and I flew to Washington, D.C. with the students and other chaperones.  

As we got ready to leave for the trip our head chaperone reminded the students that we were going on a pilgrimage. She reminded them that a pilgrimage means that we are going to pray and that hopefully this would be a spiritual experience for them, as well as a fun mini-vacation.  

The trip was amazing. The first day we walked all over Washington, D.C. seeing the sights, stepping into various museums, and being good tourists. We then went to the John Paul II Shrine. I cried while venerating the various relics, and learned about how to obtain plenary indulgences. After that we went to the vigil Mass at the basilica, where I received the Sacrament of Reconciliation and Communion. This meant that with prayers for the Pope’s intentions and completing my penance, I also received a plenary indulgence while on the trip.  

The next day, we marched! This whole trip was a trip of marching but this was the reason we came. We marched for the rights of the unborn and the most vulnerable members of our society. The day did start off with a rally and I was able to listen to speeches from an ex abortionist doctor, Bethany Hamilton, and the new Vice President, J.D. Vance. All of the speeches were excellent and really brought the crowd together as a community. Then we got to march. Walking along the streets towards the capitol building was wonderful. There were so many Catholics praying the rosary, singing, and our mood was hopeful because our message was one of hope.  

The Moment that Touched Me Most

However, the most touching part of the entire march, really the entire trip, was when I was walking up the final hill towards the capitol building. As I previously mentioned, I used to be a person that thought terminating a pregnancy was ok under certain circumstances. As I walked up that hill there was a woman with a sign that read, “I was conceived in [sexual assault] and my life matters” and her son standing next to her had a sign that read, “My mom’s life matters.”

And I cried (I’m crying now writing this article) because I feel so hurt that I let society sway my opinion on this and that at once I believed her life didn’t matter. As I passed her, she yelled out, “My life matters,” and I responded, “Yes, it does!” I don’t know who this woman is, but if I see her again next year, I plan to apologize for being a person who at one time in my life thought differently. I’m so glad she and her son are so brave and are here on this earth. Her life matters, and has always mattered.  

As I was reflecting on going to the March for Life a few days after I got home, I realized that often as Christians we see pilgrimages as huge spiritual “walks of faith” and we expect to be changed only internally. While that did happen for me, I also want to recognize that this was a physical pilgrimage as well. I literally had to step out in faith leaving my family, step out in faith walking over 20 miles in 3 and a half days, and step out in faith for the unborn while doing this march. Our bodies are made to serve God in so many wonderful ways. Choosing to March for Life is something I plan on doing again and again and again.  

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Copyright 2025 Karen Estep
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