A Prick of a Finger

Dec 5th, 2006 9:00 AM UTC
By Virginia Simmons

Below is post from Dan Haseltine of Jars of Clay about World AIDS Day.

(In November, Jars of Clay donated their song “Light Gives Heat” to ONE members and the band’s non-profit, Blood: Water Mission, is a ONE partner group.)

“Today I took a test. It was nothing more than a prick of a finger, the finger I use so often to single out blame, the finger that points at others, and asks, “What are YOU doing in the face of AIDS?”

I remember a story by a friend in South Africa. Part of the Living Hope Community Center’s work in a community is a transport of men over the mountains and into the town where they are given this same test that I just had. On this one trip into town the van was filled with storytelling and jokes, jovial conversation and banter. The return trip, however, is called “the silent ride.” Men searching their minds for the words to tell their families, hearts feeling the closeness of death, guilt, shame, confusion all ringing with the force of a battle cry, but all in silence.

What must it be like to find out you have a disease, one without a cure, one that carries not only the weight of physical pain, but the brutal force of stigma and fear? The ripple effects of this disease will be death to their children, to their spouses, and death to their ability to live in community and die with dignity. This is not a new story that begins and ends every hour of every day. It is the character arch of many heroes and villians alike. So how do we process this? What do we do with these stories?

We have a day marked for us to be reminded that AIDS is real, that the stories of those who suffer are real, it is a day that carries with it hope. Hope that that enough of us – enough doctors and politicians, actors and musicians, mothers and pastors, students and children, fathers and bankers, leaders and followers will care and act the end that World AIDS Day will become a holiday commemorating the end of HIV.

Please hope with us and believe with us that there is a way to end the suffering and pain of AIDS on our planet. When I look at the tiny hole where the needle pricked, I realize the finger is pointing back at me. What will I do today?

With great hope,

Dan Haseltine

Blood:Water Mission &

Jars of Clay

TAGS: The ONE Blog