A Life Saved Along the Way

Recently, I watched the movie Juno, There was a compelling scene where the main character made her way to the abortion clinic. She was confronted by a friend from school who was protesting in front of the clinic. Her last words to our main character before she entered the waiting room of the clinic was a reminder that the baby she carried already had fingernails, a thought that had not yet crossed the mind of this 16 year old mother. While she filled out the necessary paperwork, she could not help but notice the number of people in the waiting room and how each one of them used their fingernails for a particular purpose. Without hesitating, the young lady rushes out of the clinic and passed the friend and protestor outside the building. I can not entirely recommend the movie, but I will say that some very powerful statements about life and motherhood are made throughout.

What are fingernails anyway? Well, if you were a dinosaur, it would be your talon. If you were a horse it would be your hoof. But since you are a human, it is simply a protective and useful collection of keratin at the end of your digits. It is an amazingly tough compilation of cells. There are three layers, with the middle layer being the source of strength for the other two. It is the top and bottom layer that provides flexibility. Fingernails are abused, used and chewed. Some are long, some short and some are the “press on” kind. However, like all of the human body fingernails are just further evidence that we are fearfully and wonderfully made. And, can be a subtle reminder that life exists. Click here to view the "fingernail clip" from the movie.