A World AIDS Day reflection: Remember, Remind and Renew

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church Interfaith Service

By the Rev. Dr. Sandra Bochonok

December 1, 2000

Remember

Today is the 13^th annual World AIDS Day. Today people have gathered around the world for greater awareness of this global epidemic in one hundred and ninety-one countries. Our interfaith service honors and remembers those affected by HIV/AIDS. We have lit a candle of hope. Never, ever underestimate the power of a single flame of hope. Together we represent a very bright light of faith, hope and love in the AIDS epidemic.

We have taken time out of our busy lives to remember courageous people living with AIDS and those who love and care for them. We have offered names of beloved lovers, friends, children, parents, relatives and colleagues this evening in this safe place around the labyrinth with the Tibetan prayer bowl.

This is an evening for remembering and honoring the many dear ones who are with us no longer, as well as those who continue to live their lives with dignity, courage and hope. As long as we remember their names and stories, they continue to live in our hearts. And their lives continue to bless, encourage and uplift us locally and globally. We must remember them and that as long as there is life, there is hope.

The Famous AIDS Quilt

Several years ago I had the profound experience of seeing the famous AIDS quilt in our nation’s capital. It stretched out as far as the eye could see. Hundreds of thousands of quilt panels had been lovingly sewn by many mourners. Each quilt panel represented the life of someone who had died of AIDS and shared something personal about the dear departed one. Sometimes the panels had a poem or a favorite nickname that often included pictures with a few words describing cherished memories. Numerous volunteers respectfully read the Quilt names of those who died of AIDS throughout the day. Hearing those names through the public address system while lingering for several hours among the AIDS Quilt was one of the most powerful experiences in my life. Reading the names brought dignity and honor to their lives. Seeing the quilt panels made the dead real and personal.

This is what we have done this evening. We remember that people with AIDS have names. Every life has a name and personal story that needs to be heard and be given dignity. This evening we have been blessed with some true life stories of people who lived with AIDS by loving families and friends.

Remember them in the chapels of your hearts.

Remind Others and Ourselves

We must constantly remind others and ourselves that AIDS remains a growing global epidemic. AIDS affects us all and is no respecter of sexual orientation, gender, culture, economic status or religious preference. We must continue to remind others that AIDS is not "just a gay disease." It is a disease affecting and infecting millions upon millions of people around the world.

At this moment in world history, one in every one hundred adult’s aged 15-49 worldwide is infected. 3.6 million children under the age of 15 are infected. 7,000 young people aged 10-24 are infected with HIV every day. Five young people are infected with HIV every minute. We must remind our young and old alike that AIDS is a reality in today’s world. AIDS is a local as well as global problem.

The majority of people do not know they are infected. Many live in the developing world where life-saving medications are unavailable to them. Millions of children are now orphaned as AIDS has taken the lives of both their parents. In twenty years, experts predict there will be more than 40 million orphans under the age of 15 in 23 countries. AIDS is wiping out the gains made in life expectancy in many countries.

So how can we make a difference with such a massive challenge before us? I am suggesting we begin where we live locally. We can make a difference in AIDS awareness right here and now.

Prevention through Education

An old proverb reminds us that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. The spread of HIV can be dramatically prevented through education. I clearly remember being aware of this while serving as a former active duty Navy Chaplain on an ammunition ship in 1992-93.

We were about to go overseas on deployment. Some of our foreign port calls would be in HIV/AIDS epicenters in countries such as Thailand. Sex would be cheap and plentiful for lonely sailors who had been at sea for months. I knew an estimated 85% of the local prostitutes would be carrying the HIV virus and that usually about 25-30% of all deploying ships personnel usually returned with some sort of STD (Sexually Transmitted Disease). HIV/AIDS is classified as a STD, although it must be noted that people have contracted HIV/AIDS through contaminated blood transfusions, infected needles and contact with other people’s blood through open wounds. Certain sailors would be engaging in high-risk behaviors. This caused grave concern for those in positions of leadership.

Before our deployment, the ship arranged for the Red Cross to visit our ship for mandatory training in HIV awareness and prevention. Every man and woman aboard learned about HIV awareness and prevention that day.

But education isn’t always enough. Learning needs to be reinforced and encouraged again and again. We also need to take personal responsibility for our behavior.

Thailand Port Visit and Experience

I clearly remember what happened when our ship pulled into port in Thailand. The announcement was made over the ship’s public address system that the local prostitutes were not HIV infected. I remember hearing some of the sailors cheering at this news. Many left the ship without taking the free condoms available in large boxes on the pier. But many of the prostitutes were HIV positive. Some had AIDS. The announcement was inaccurate and misleading. As a result, many people were now at risk.

During the weeks at sea while returning home from our deployment, I would often have sailors, both men and women, quietly and privately approach me. "Psst," they would whisper to me, "Chaplain, do you have a minute where I could see you about something very important?" And these concerned individuals would share their dilemma and worry about coming home to spouses, lovers and significant others after having unprotected sex overseas. "Do I have to tell them if we are going to have sex?" they would ask me.

And I always encouraged them to get tested for the virus immediately upon our return. I would urge them to tell their significant other before engaging in unprotected intimate behavior and encourage them to use condoms while awaiting HIV test results. The spread of HIV can be greatly minimized this way.

Kitsap County

Today Kitsap County has reminded many people in three different locations of the facts and realities about AIDS. Volunteers from the Kitsap County AIDS Foundation have provided local and national infection statistics, while providing life-saving information on county services. These dedicated volunteers have been working from 10 a.m. through 9 p.m. In downtown Bremerton at the Gazebo at Fourth and Washington streets, a candlelight vigil began at 6 p.m. Free condoms were distributed through the local outreaches. Here at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, we have offered the labyrinth and this interfaith memorial service.

This is a very good beginning as we enter a new millennium. Through these efforts here and around the world, numerous people have learned about AIDS, decided to get tested for the virus, accepted free condoms and decided to practice safe sex and notify a partner of their HIV status. People from different faiths have gathered in unity to pray and work together for a cure while compassionately caring for those affected by AIDS. Together our combined efforts bring a brighter light of hope to our county. This needs to be celebrated and affirmed.

Together we can make a difference with AIDS. Remind yourselves of that every day.

Renew yourselves

Whether we are involved in grief work, care-giving, living with HIV/AIDS or promoting education and working to be a change agent, it can all become personally exhausting. We need moments to recharge, rest and renew our strength and determination. Personal renewal can take many different forms of rest, recreation and reflection.

Some of us might feel drawn to walk the labyrinth after our service for some moments of renewal. I cordially invite you to consider walking the labyrinth in silent meditation and prayer after this evening’s service. It will remain open until 9 p.m.

The labyrinth is simply a gift we give ourselves. Walking solves many difficulties in life. People have walked labyrinths for thousands of years in many different world cultures.

Labyrinth Love and Wisdom

Labyrinth love and wisdom can help us remember our loved ones, while reminding us that there is hope for the living. We can renew our strength for one more day, even if one day at a time feels overwhelming.

Labyrinth love and wisdom invites us to simply walk, watch, wonder and remember. Take off your shoes and let the labyrinth be holy ground. Walk it in beloved community. Trust the path and let it be a metaphor for your life. The labyrinth offers us healing, wholeness, peace, joy and inner strength for our journey. Walk securely, knowing that you are valued, special, loved and affirmed. Take a moment or two and write down your thoughts. Perhaps later on a word, phrase or memory that you wrote down will become a source of healing and encouragement.

Take the time to care for yourself

One is not required to walk the labyrinth for renewal. But whatever you need for personal renewal, take the time to care for your body and soul. Relax, refresh, recharge, rest, and seek moments of recreation for balance and wholeness, quality of life enrichment. Know that you are valued, special, loved and affirmed this evening. Cherish the beauty of your precious life.

God bless you. Amen.

Some helpful online resources for your journey

Recommended AIDS information and resources:

Recommended labyrinth websites: