As we draw near to the end of October, a month in which we recognize both the battle to end breast cancer and the one to end domestic violence, we carry forward several positive thoughts and memories from this time:

  • The sight of NFL players taking the field to wage battle dressed in their finest pink uniforms, armbands, gloves, and shoes. In a sport that too often gains recognition for individuals who have engaged in behavior that dishonored women, this sight touched our hearts. It’s a reminder that even the toughest athletes have mothers, sisters, wives, and women friends, too. And some of those women are waging and winning battles with breast cancer. Some have lost their battles. It was for all of them that these men strutted proudly, dressed in pink.
  • Our evening with the students of Hope International University, who wanted to learn more about domestic violence relationships and what they can do to take a stand. We were particularly touched by the young men who spoke to us one on one at the end of the evening. Some had witnessed and been victimized by domestic violence in their own homes. Others admitted having witnessed instances of violence between young men and women and not known what they should do. All spoke of a genuine desire to get involved, get organized, and do their part to make domestic violence a distant memory for the next generation.
  • A post from blogger Anthony Neal, Black Women’s Health and Domestic Violence, in which he tackles the often intertwined issues of  domestic violence and women’s health. Neal suggests to men “that our dismissive attitude towards women’s health care issues represents a form of abuse itself.” In this thoughtful piece, he further challenges men to take greater responsibility for increasing their awareness of the diseases and violence that threaten the well-being of the women in their lives. Read the entire article here.
  • California Governor Schwarzenegger’s recognition that he erred in cutting funds for domestic violence shelters to fight the state’s budget woes. On Wednesday, October 21, the governor signed a bill reinstating $16.3 million in funding for the state’s domestic violence shelters. Of course, the state will have to find another solution when the money runs out next year, but, for now, a catastrophe has been averted with the signing of the bill. Ninety-four shelters will remain open because of the restored funding.
  • A growing chorus of voices from men from all walks of life who “get it” – who get that:
  1. Domestic violence is always, always wrong.
  2. When women live in fear in their own homes, children live in fear in their own homes (many remember being those children).
  3. When children see violence used as the solution, many of them act out the same solution.
  4. The effects of domestic violence travel into every fabric of our society and weaken it from within.
  5. Victims and perpetrators alike are broken and need to be healed to become whole again.

And because they get it, they are now committed to stopping it. At Eagle’s Wings, where we have too often found strong male voices inside the church and elsewhere unwilling to take a public stand against domestic violence, this is a true answer to prayer.

As we move forward, we are more hopeful than ever that the battles against both breast cancer and domestic violence will be won.