Worth More: An Interview with Bronwyn Gray

The short film Worth More follows four main characters who are all questioning their value to varying degrees for different reasons. All these characters coalesce on a bridge, and they recall humanity’s inherent dignity in their attempt to save one among them who is threatening suicide. I relate this to MAiD by drawing a connection between suicide and assisted suicide/euthanasia, seeking to show how both deadly issues have the question of human value/worth at their heart.

My personal healing journey inspired me to delve into this subject. A few years ago, I went through a severe identity crisis. I didn’t know how I was going to recover, but then God, my Father, led me on a beautiful and very painful healing journey, leading me to heal from childhood trauma I had never addressed. At the core of my healing journey was the question of my value and worth.

What spurred me to make this short film was Bill C-7’s sunset clause to legalize euthanasia and doctor-assisted suicide for those with mental illnesses, originally postponed to March 2024. However, in fighting against euthanasia for those with mental illnesses, I cannot not fight against euthanasia for those with physical disabilities too—not if my message is about humanity’s inherent value and dignity. When the Nazis exterminated 250,000 people whom they deemed as worthless less than one hundred years ago, their victims were those with mental and physical disabilities. Logically, life is either valuable and worth defending for all—or not at all. While I am hoping to resonate with the majority of Canadians by protesting MAiD for mental illness, the overwhelming message of the film is that everyone is worth more—not just the happy, healthy, and young, and not only those with mental illnesses.

Yes. In 2022, I was shocked to learn that a family friend of many years had chosen to die by doctor-assisted suicide. This woman had impressed me as a very strong Christian and had been an encouragement to me in my own faith. I was shocked to learn about her death and then the suicide of a young woman I went to Bible college with who had a husband and a daughter. These life stories deeply impacted me because of my own struggle with suicidal ideations more recently as a committed Christian but also because both women showed evidence of strong faith in Christ. The reality is some Christians in Canada are choosing MAiD, and this is one reason why we need to talk about MAiD in our churches and become better at living as an authentic family in Christ.

The hope and prayer is that God will use Worth More to ignite a fire across Canada to raise a cry against MAiD for the inherent dignity of every life. We hope people will realize they make a difference—either by their apathy or their love. Emailing an MP through ARPA Canada’s website carenotkill.ca makes a difference. Applying to become a “Guardian Angel” through the Delta Hospice Society makes a difference. Donating to support a great pro-life organization like the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition makes a difference. We can bring change. It’s a lie that we can’t.

I’ve struggled a lot with the lie that “No one cares” about this issue, and I’m alone. No one will attend the screenings. No one will donate. Nothing will happen, and the numbers of people dying will just increase. The truth that God cares about us—He really does love us Canadians—and that it is for Him that I am doing this film project has really helped. This is His project! And some people do care, and thanks to His power, the numbers are growing.