We are using this powerful recitation at the upcoming "Living Healthy with HIV" fair planned February 20th. Below was recently recited at a worship service during World AIDS Day.You may have heard this before, sorry for the repeat. It is powerful enough to remind ourselves of the isolation we feel in living with AIDS. And, also our prayer for a cure. This is the truth we live with.
"WE ARE THE SUBURBS"
We are the suburbs.
We are are Gay.
We are straight.
We are Democrat.
We are Republican.
We have cancer.
We have alzheimers.
We have children.
We have no children.
We are single.
We are partnered and married.
We are teachers.
We are vice-presidents.
We are the suburbs.
and, we have AIDS.
What? AIDS in the suburbs, that can\'t be !
Of course that can be. There are people with AIDS who live everywhere–especially in the suburbs.
But who are they? Where are they?
They — we—-are isolated.
We who have AIDS–are isolated in the suburbs when we are unable to surround ourselves with the support we so desperately need.
We who have AIDS–are isolated in the suburbs when we don\'t have insurance or disability and must travel to receive proper medical attention at Thomas Street Clinic, Legacy or Bering Dental Clinic.
We who have AIDS–are isolated in the suburbs when we don\'t have a place in our suburban community to grieve the death of our friends and family who have died from AIDS or even to share in group therapy the joys and struggles of living with AIDS.
We who have AIDS–are isolated in the suburbs when we don\'t have a community in which we can reveal all of who we are and trust that others won\'t hurt us. And so instead, we closet ourselves to protect ourselves.
We who have AIDS–are isolated in the suburbs when we can\'t find a faith community to join where we can truly be ourselves.
We are the suburbs, and we have AIDS.
But tonight we rejoice that this isolation is being replaced by gathering.
God said, "for where 2 or 3 are gathered in my Name, I am there among them." So we are gathering.
We are gathering–by creating a safe space where 2 or 3 or 20 or 100 may worship together.
We are gathering–when our neighbor drives us to Montrose so we won\'t have to be alone to receive medical attention.
We are gathering–so we can simply name all of who we are and be embraced, and embrace others.
We are gathering–when we finally meet and connect with fellow neighbors living with AIDS in our suburban community.
We are gathering–when we can serve on our church councils, and be accepted for the whole and healing process God created us to be.
On this night of remembrance, and hope, let us celebrate.
That we are the suburbs, we have AIDS, and we are gathering now and forever more. Amen.
Amen.
Never heard or seen this. Thanks for sharing.