Andrew & Esther - Through Our Eyes Archive
Our Thoughts

January 30, 2006
Confessing My Ignorance
My ignorance hit me in the face today like a baseball bat.

Not. Fun. But. Good.

Have I been too self-absorbed? Intentionally turning a blind eye?

Whatever the reason – now is the time to replace my ignorance with knowledge. And from there…who knows where this journey will take me.

I need to learn about HIV and AIDS.

Woman With Child by Stephen Mogotsi/BotswanaHIV/AIDS is in the news more and more these days. We all hear the statistics of thousands dying…and more all the time. The AIDS pandemic. I’ve heard it…but it’s really gone in one ear and out the other. I think we’re overloaded with staggering statistics all the time, and I’ve become numb to them…they hold little meaning for me.

My honest impression of HIV/AIDS? Here in the U.S.: The homosexual lifestyle is yielding the results one might expect…and if a heterosexual person is infected, well they must have slept around or been using illegal drugs. Sad – but expected I suppose. And overseas? Well, tons of Africans are sleeping around with everyone in their neighborhood…out of control like wild savages. And now thousands are dead and kids are left everywhere to fend for themselves.

Awful.

Tragic.

Yet somehow, still outside of my bubble.

But recent conversations with friends and coworkers…and I believe God with His grace…have all come together in the powerful “baseball bat in the face” experience I recently had. Praise God! The first step has been taken – I realize I’m ignorant. And it’s time to learn.

I have to start this journey with an apology to all who will listen: I apologize for my ignorance. I apologize for not caring. And I apologize for the mistakes I will make on this journey. But my heart, now, is to learn – and then, as God leads, to take what action I can. I believe that we, the church, absolutely must roll up our sleeves and get our hands dirty. Very dirty.

Convergence by Rekha RaoLast year – AIDS killed around 3 million people. One half million of those were children. 500,000 kids. Dead. And over 40 million people are living with HIV/AIDS today. 2 million of them are kids. Living (or dying?) with HIV/AIDS right now.

It’s so easy to gloss over those numbers. I’ve been doing it for a long time. And I truly am sorry.

But by God’s grace, I desire to learn – and want to be open to whatever God may call me to do with what I learn.

What really is the truth about HIV/AIDS? In the U.S.? Around the World?

How is the church responding? How should we be responding?

God, I don’t know. Please show me. Please show me your heart towards HIV/AIDS. Thank you so much for your people who are already on the front lines, getting their hands dirty. Forgive those of us who have walked on the other side of the road from these wounded Samaritans. Forgive me Lord. Thank you for your grace with me. And may your grace abound over the entire HIV/AIDS pandemic.