August 15, 1986 3:17am
The desert was hot. Hot and bright, and I lay under the sun on a stone and felt like I was baking alive. Four days had gone by and nothing. Nothing. Just the slow languish of late summer in the Arizona desert. By that time, I knew my family was probably beside themselves with worry. I’d never just openly defied my parents before, but the pull of the Father could not be denied. I had to go out there. Out there to that very place. And yet, by the 5th day nothing had happened. I waited and baked, thinking about the trouble I was going to be in when I finally went home. I sat up and doused myself with more water. I was running out of it. Running out of a lot of things. I wondered if I should just pack up and go home.
“Would you go before the message was delivered?” I heard a voice say. I looked around and saw no one. I swallowed down some water so I could speak.
“Where are you?” I asked aloud. No answer. I stood up and walked around the stone slab I had been laying on, looking in all directions. The sun was blinding and my eyes saw only dark spots that swirled around in front of my vision.
“Well?” I heard it again. There was a note of irritation in it.
“No. I will not go before I’ve heard it.” I answered then. “I have been waiting.”
“You thought of going.” I couldn’t tell if the voice was male or female, it sounded like both, like it was a chorus of voices actually. In such complete unison that it became one.
“Forgive me. I am not going.”
No answer. The desert was silent again. I looked around, still seeing no one. Just the dark spots in front of my eyes. I drank down more water. A breeze blew by me then and with it came the scent of roses. I smiled at the smell. Then, the Father’s presence overwhelmed me and I was enveloped in His grace. I went to my knees and upturned my gaze full force into the sun. I felt, what can only be described as a hand, lay on the top of my head and gently turn my gaze away from the sun and over to my left. And there he was. The angel. And he looked like me, as he always did when I saw him. But, his face conveyed remorse, as though he had been weeping. His eyes wild, his hair disheveled, his remnant rumpled. He came at me urgently, the Father’s presence grew stronger and the Hand moved to my shoulder. I remained on my knees.
“Stephen.” The angel said, his voice strong and strained. He moved to stand before me and I looked up at him. “Stephen. The path you have chosen is wrong.” He stressed the word “wrong” as though it pained him to speak it.
“Wrong? How can that be? I have chosen to serve the Father…” He held up a hand to silence me. The Hand on my shoulder gripped tighter.
“The manner of service is wrong. You will help no one. There will not be time.” His sorrow rippled over his remnant as though it were a tangible breeze. “Do you hear? No one. Time will not be in abundance for you.”
I nodded then. “I know.” I whispered. “I have always known.” And his sorrow began to overwhelm me. “How long?”
“Not.” He said, his voice close to weeping. “The path, the course, the way…your way must alter.”
“Where must I go? If not to the Church, then where?”
“The world.” He replied. “What will come, is now coming. Soon, you will know the way of how it will be for you.” And his weeping began. “I will hold you. I will help. But you, must hold as well. His strength will be yours, if you hold.” The Hand gripped even tighter, and I wept then as well.
“I will hold until my last breath.” I wept. “Father! Thy will be done! It is all I strive to do, all I wish to be. Your vessel, Your messenger. Show me how best I am to Your work!” His hand left my shoulder, and the angel held out his hand to me then. I took it and he lifted me to my feet. I gazed into the mirror of my own eyes. They wept.
He drew me to him and embraced me. I felt the sorrow radiating through him. “The way, at times, will be unbearable. Look to the Most High, and draw from the deep well of His grace. You will not be abandoned. It will come soon, Stephen. The great ordeal of your existence. But the time of it, will be minute, weighed against the eternity that awaits you. Accept this?”
“Yes.” I whispered into his shoulder. He kissed the top of my head then and grace flooded through me and the sorrow left me. As did he. And I was once again alone in the desert. Down I went, down to my knees and held my face in my hands. My weeping came in gasps, sobs, I hugged at my chest and rocked back and forth, like a lost child.
“Do not linger!” The voices that spoke as one shouted. “Time is not in abundance for you.”
And so, I stood. I stood and packed up my gear and threw it in the jeep. How I made it back home, I will never know. I was just suddenly pulling into the driveway. My father was standing in the doorway. His face portraying the anger and relief I knew he felt in that moment. I sat and stared back at him, then got out.
Now, I pen this in my room. The angry words over with, the tears shed. I took it all, because I knew I deserved it. Grounded for, well quite awhile, my jeep taken away, no phone..etc. All deserved. It was Tracie who finally asked what at no one else seemed to be able too. “What happened, Stevie?” She, my beautiful sister, knew something life changing had happened. I knew she knew it, because her eyes never left mine as the yelling and crying had gone on. Her face was shining with understanding and patience.
I smiled at her then. “I was given a new path to follow. I was told that the one I had chosen was not the right one. I will not pursue the priesthood. There won’t be enough time.”
And all she did was nod. She knew, as she always knows. “I told them you were alright.” She said then. “I would have known if you weren’t.”
“I know.”
I hugged her then. My sister, my best friend. Tracie. She will be the one. Through all of it, it will be her that sustains me. “It’s coming, Stephen. Isn’t it?”
“Yes, Tracie. But I am not afraid.”
“I am.”
Maybe I am too. What comes will come. Fear will only make it harder for me to endure it. He had said, “The great ordeal of your existence.” But, he had also said. “the time of it, will be minute, weighed against the eternity that awaits you.” I draw strength from such affirmations.
Stephen C. McKinney Memorial Thread (1969-2001)
Moderators: deer of the dawn, Furls Fire
-
Menolly
- A Lowly Harper
- Posts: 24184
- Joined: Thu May 19, 2005 12:29 am
- Location: Harper Hall, Fort Hold, Northern Continent, Pern...
- Has thanked: 1 time
- Been thanked: 15 times
- Contact:
I just said this to Furls in chat, but I want to repeat it here as well, for perpetuity (I think that's the word I want).
These last two entries touched me to the core. His very first, when he was nine years old, and what strikes me as another first, when he was set on his fateful journey. In both instances he mentions his strength: his sister. The wonderful woman we all know who has decided to share his words with all of us.
Once again, thank you Furls.
My eyes are ever opening to that which is greater than me...
These last two entries touched me to the core. His very first, when he was nine years old, and what strikes me as another first, when he was set on his fateful journey. In both instances he mentions his strength: his sister. The wonderful woman we all know who has decided to share his words with all of us.
Once again, thank you Furls.
My eyes are ever opening to that which is greater than me...
-
Furls Fire
- Lord
- Posts: 4872
- Joined: Mon Aug 04, 2003 10:35 am
- Location: Heaven
In accepting a gift, you honor the giver. It is an honor for me to give all who come here the gift of Stephen. 
And as I said in chat last night. I am so very happy that you have finally entered here and have found joy.
There are several entries in here, and many more that I haven't posted, that mention me as his "strength". But, he was always mine as well. When the worst days came, he ended up comforting me because I couldn't bare what was happening to him. Any light that I have is only a dim reflection of his. He shined so bright...and as I have said before...mere words are inadaquate to describe him.
A quick note about the timing of his trip into the desert. Stephen had graduated at the beginning of that June. He was scheduled to enter Seminary at the beginning of that September. When we spoke after he came home (the conversation was much longer than what he actually wrote down in his journal) he told me that from the time he had graduated he had been feeling "pulled" to go into the desert and he saw the location he was to go to in his dreams. When he asked our parents if he could go, they told him no...too dangerous...one does not go out into the Arizona desert alone in the peak of summer. He went anyway, which of course made my dad very angry. At the time I was at NAU, doing a summer session and when he disappeared the family called me. I rushed home, not because I was worried about him, but because I wanted to calm them all down. I tried to tell them that the pull of the Lord must have been very strong for him to just take off like that. And that they should trust him and the Lord. He would be fine. It went so badly when he came home. My dad, Matt and Chris all shouted at him, my mom was crying, Julie had fled...hehehe...and me, well I just watched him and waited. He took it all, just sat there, his eyes on me most of the time. It was days before they all would listen to him.
Two years and a few months later, we got the diagnosis. Stephen was HIV positive. It was then that we knew how "the way of how it will be for you." would actually be. Stephen, my beautiful brother, was going to get AIDS. And time was definitely not going to be in abundance for him. On that day, my world, my life's direction abruptly changed course. I have been working to get rid of HIV/AIDS ever since.
And as I said in chat last night. I am so very happy that you have finally entered here and have found joy.
There are several entries in here, and many more that I haven't posted, that mention me as his "strength". But, he was always mine as well. When the worst days came, he ended up comforting me because I couldn't bare what was happening to him. Any light that I have is only a dim reflection of his. He shined so bright...and as I have said before...mere words are inadaquate to describe him.
A quick note about the timing of his trip into the desert. Stephen had graduated at the beginning of that June. He was scheduled to enter Seminary at the beginning of that September. When we spoke after he came home (the conversation was much longer than what he actually wrote down in his journal) he told me that from the time he had graduated he had been feeling "pulled" to go into the desert and he saw the location he was to go to in his dreams. When he asked our parents if he could go, they told him no...too dangerous...one does not go out into the Arizona desert alone in the peak of summer. He went anyway, which of course made my dad very angry. At the time I was at NAU, doing a summer session and when he disappeared the family called me. I rushed home, not because I was worried about him, but because I wanted to calm them all down. I tried to tell them that the pull of the Lord must have been very strong for him to just take off like that. And that they should trust him and the Lord. He would be fine. It went so badly when he came home. My dad, Matt and Chris all shouted at him, my mom was crying, Julie had fled...hehehe...and me, well I just watched him and waited. He took it all, just sat there, his eyes on me most of the time. It was days before they all would listen to him.
Two years and a few months later, we got the diagnosis. Stephen was HIV positive. It was then that we knew how "the way of how it will be for you." would actually be. Stephen, my beautiful brother, was going to get AIDS. And time was definitely not going to be in abundance for him. On that day, my world, my life's direction abruptly changed course. I have been working to get rid of HIV/AIDS ever since.
And I believe in you
altho you never asked me too
I will remember you
and what life put you thru.
~fly fly little wing, fly where only angels sing~
~this world was never meant for one as beautiful as you~
...for then I could fly away and be at rest. Sweet rest, Mom. We all love and miss you.
altho you never asked me too
I will remember you
and what life put you thru.
~fly fly little wing, fly where only angels sing~
~this world was never meant for one as beautiful as you~
...for then I could fly away and be at rest. Sweet rest, Mom. We all love and miss you.
-
Furls Fire
- Lord
- Posts: 4872
- Joined: Mon Aug 04, 2003 10:35 am
- Location: Heaven
Sometimes, I don't recognize him. Sometimes, the pain was just too much and he had to let it out somehow. This next entry is hard for me to take.
it's a long way down from the high point.
it's a long way down from the high point.
And I believe in you
altho you never asked me too
I will remember you
and what life put you thru.
~fly fly little wing, fly where only angels sing~
~this world was never meant for one as beautiful as you~
...for then I could fly away and be at rest. Sweet rest, Mom. We all love and miss you.
altho you never asked me too
I will remember you
and what life put you thru.
~fly fly little wing, fly where only angels sing~
~this world was never meant for one as beautiful as you~
...for then I could fly away and be at rest. Sweet rest, Mom. We all love and miss you.
May 24, 2001 2:03 am
It’s a long way down. It’s a long way down from the high point and the crash dazes me. Almost, I see the ground coming before I hit. But, it’s illusion and I always hit way before I think I’m supposed to. If I flapped my arms, could I fly? No. Of course not. This is why there is no choice. No, either jump and not fly, or stay and let it all push me over anyway. And it’s such a long way down. Either way, I will hit. And there will be no safety net. Will it kill me? Maybe, but it hasn’t yet. Each time it’s harder to heal from. Could there be any other outcome? No. The way of it is set. Set in stone. Set against my will for it to be anything other than this. This will eventually kill me.
And the anger is what makes me jump. No wait, not anger, more like…defiance. It’s sweet. It’s a sweet sweet fall, and I almost, almost soar above it. Almost. Yet, there is always that second when I realize I’m not flying at all and that’s when I collide with the truth of my fate. And it’s always a long way down from the high point.
If I asked to be spared, would that matter? Or is this just how it’s to be, no matter how I live? And if I keep living through it, will it only get worse? Or will I be made stronger, despite all the weakness that comes with it?
I have faith the fall won’t kill me, not yet. But, Father, it’s always such a very long way down from the high point. And, I always seem to hit ground long before I think I’m supposed too. I’m too heavy to fly.
It’s a long way down. It’s a long way down from the high point and the crash dazes me. Almost, I see the ground coming before I hit. But, it’s illusion and I always hit way before I think I’m supposed to. If I flapped my arms, could I fly? No. Of course not. This is why there is no choice. No, either jump and not fly, or stay and let it all push me over anyway. And it’s such a long way down. Either way, I will hit. And there will be no safety net. Will it kill me? Maybe, but it hasn’t yet. Each time it’s harder to heal from. Could there be any other outcome? No. The way of it is set. Set in stone. Set against my will for it to be anything other than this. This will eventually kill me.
And the anger is what makes me jump. No wait, not anger, more like…defiance. It’s sweet. It’s a sweet sweet fall, and I almost, almost soar above it. Almost. Yet, there is always that second when I realize I’m not flying at all and that’s when I collide with the truth of my fate. And it’s always a long way down from the high point.
If I asked to be spared, would that matter? Or is this just how it’s to be, no matter how I live? And if I keep living through it, will it only get worse? Or will I be made stronger, despite all the weakness that comes with it?
I have faith the fall won’t kill me, not yet. But, Father, it’s always such a very long way down from the high point. And, I always seem to hit ground long before I think I’m supposed too. I’m too heavy to fly.
I sing to life
and to it's tragic beauty
to pain and to strife
and all that dances thru me
the rise and the fall
i've lived thru it all...
To my brother, Steve, who held a grace and light beyond words, God bless. I love you --Tracie
and to it's tragic beauty
to pain and to strife
and all that dances thru me
the rise and the fall
i've lived thru it all...
To my brother, Steve, who held a grace and light beyond words, God bless. I love you --Tracie
-
Fist and Faith
- Magister Vitae
- Posts: 25450
- Joined: Sun Dec 01, 2002 8:14 pm
- Has thanked: 9 times
- Been thanked: 57 times
Are you kidding me?!?!?? I don't stop in here for a week or so, and this is what I come back to?!?!??
Thank you. hehe
Wow, that desert entry is a great one! I don't remember hearing about that incident at all.
You wound me, dear Brooke, oh, you wound me!!Fire Daughter wrote:Yeah, I found her...LOL!! I can't believe Fist got her involved in that silly game.
OK, for this, I'll let that "silly" crack slide.Fire Daughter wrote:And Hey Fist!! I forgot to congratulate you on your wedding! I'm so happy for you! HUGS!
Thank you. heheWow, that desert entry is a great one! I don't remember hearing about that incident at all.
All lies and jest
Still a man hears what he wants to hear
And disregards the rest -Paul Simon
Still a man hears what he wants to hear
And disregards the rest -Paul Simon
-
Furls Fire
- Lord
- Posts: 4872
- Joined: Mon Aug 04, 2003 10:35 am
- Location: Heaven
HA! Serves you right then...not "stopping in here for a week or so". What happened to, "This is the first place I come to when I come on the Watch."? Hehehehehe... 
Ah, anyway...I mentioned his trip to the desert a few times in here, but it was awhile ago. Somehow, I never thought to post the entry until now. Strange. The pull to do it was now was so overwhelming. "A time to every purpose" I suppose. He's been whispering to me, I hear him constantly. Something is about to happen, or someone is about to happen. All my attention has been drawn here for some reason lately....
Auleliel, AIDS is devastating. The body attacks itself, the common cold can kill someone with AIDS. I've watched it do it many times, and each time my heart breaks a little more.
And so, this is why my life's work is to see it ended. I'm not a researcher, but I am an activist and many of the organizations I belong too help fund the research and also, help the people with AIDS live better and longer lives. In some small way, I hope I make a difference. But, I'm only one person and this horrible disease is insipid and widespread...I feel inadequate sometimes. So very inadequate...
Ah, anyway...I mentioned his trip to the desert a few times in here, but it was awhile ago. Somehow, I never thought to post the entry until now. Strange. The pull to do it was now was so overwhelming. "A time to every purpose" I suppose. He's been whispering to me, I hear him constantly. Something is about to happen, or someone is about to happen. All my attention has been drawn here for some reason lately....
Auleliel, AIDS is devastating. The body attacks itself, the common cold can kill someone with AIDS. I've watched it do it many times, and each time my heart breaks a little more.
And so, this is why my life's work is to see it ended. I'm not a researcher, but I am an activist and many of the organizations I belong too help fund the research and also, help the people with AIDS live better and longer lives. In some small way, I hope I make a difference. But, I'm only one person and this horrible disease is insipid and widespread...I feel inadequate sometimes. So very inadequate...And I believe in you
altho you never asked me too
I will remember you
and what life put you thru.
~fly fly little wing, fly where only angels sing~
~this world was never meant for one as beautiful as you~
...for then I could fly away and be at rest. Sweet rest, Mom. We all love and miss you.
altho you never asked me too
I will remember you
and what life put you thru.
~fly fly little wing, fly where only angels sing~
~this world was never meant for one as beautiful as you~
...for then I could fly away and be at rest. Sweet rest, Mom. We all love and miss you.
-
Fire Daughter
- <i>Haruchai</i>
- Posts: 635
- Joined: Tue Jun 15, 2004 2:06 pm
- Location: Revelstone
*Offers Fist a band-aid for his "wound"*Fist and Faith wrote:Are you kidding me?!?!?? I don't stop in here for a week or so, and this is what I come back to?!?!??You wound me, dear Brooke, oh, you wound me!!Fire Daughter wrote:Yeah, I found her...LOL!! I can't believe Fist got her involved in that silly game.
OK, for this, I'll let that "silly" crack slide.Fire Daughter wrote:And Hey Fist!! I forgot to congratulate you on your wedding! I'm so happy for you! HUGS!
Wow, that desert entry is a great one! I don't remember hearing about that incident at all.
And Mother, stop saying things like that!!!
For Myles--
When evening shadows and the stars appear
And there is no one to dry your tears
I could hold you for a million years
To make you feel my love
For Mom--
Did you ever know that you're my hero,
and everything I would like to be?
I can fly higher than an eagle,
for you are the wind beneath my wings.
Fly...fly high against the sky...
Thank you, thank you, thank God for you
The wind beneath my wings
When evening shadows and the stars appear
And there is no one to dry your tears
I could hold you for a million years
To make you feel my love
For Mom--
Did you ever know that you're my hero,
and everything I would like to be?
I can fly higher than an eagle,
for you are the wind beneath my wings.
Fly...fly high against the sky...
Thank you, thank you, thank God for you
The wind beneath my wings
-
Furls Fire
- Lord
- Posts: 4872
- Joined: Mon Aug 04, 2003 10:35 am
- Location: Heaven
Sorry honey.
Well, I now know why I was meant to post the "desert" entry. Seems someone was about to happen afterall. This person has been reading the thread for a couple of months now, and after I posted the entry, he emailed me. I can't such much more, only this... Stephen is still Stephen, and he's still making miracles happen.
I'm trying to get this person to register and post here...we'll see.
Well, I now know why I was meant to post the "desert" entry. Seems someone was about to happen afterall. This person has been reading the thread for a couple of months now, and after I posted the entry, he emailed me. I can't such much more, only this... Stephen is still Stephen, and he's still making miracles happen.
I'm trying to get this person to register and post here...we'll see.
And I believe in you
altho you never asked me too
I will remember you
and what life put you thru.
~fly fly little wing, fly where only angels sing~
~this world was never meant for one as beautiful as you~
...for then I could fly away and be at rest. Sweet rest, Mom. We all love and miss you.
altho you never asked me too
I will remember you
and what life put you thru.
~fly fly little wing, fly where only angels sing~
~this world was never meant for one as beautiful as you~
...for then I could fly away and be at rest. Sweet rest, Mom. We all love and miss you.
I'm here. Not sure what I can contribute. I just want to say thank you to Tracie, for what she's already done for me and to her brother, who has been visiting me in my dreams and led me here.
My name is Alex, and I have AIDS. I was diagnosed HIV positive in 1994 and have been full blown since 2002. Tracie says I remind her alot of Isaiah, and reading through the thread, I see alot he and I have in common. Especially the feeling of being alone.
Anyway, hi everyone!
My name is Alex, and I have AIDS. I was diagnosed HIV positive in 1994 and have been full blown since 2002. Tracie says I remind her alot of Isaiah, and reading through the thread, I see alot he and I have in common. Especially the feeling of being alone.
Anyway, hi everyone!
Sweet peace come to me
Calm the chaos churning within
Sweet Jesus enwrap me
Enlighten my heart so dim
My soul seeks Thee
In breathless desperation it cries
Sweet Jesus enwrap me
As my body slowly dies...
--Isaiah John Adderly, found by Tracie Hammon 1/18/06
Calm the chaos churning within
Sweet Jesus enwrap me
Enlighten my heart so dim
My soul seeks Thee
In breathless desperation it cries
Sweet Jesus enwrap me
As my body slowly dies...
--Isaiah John Adderly, found by Tracie Hammon 1/18/06
welcome, Alex! I'm glad you posted. It can be very scarey to reach out and trust your heart to others. Keep posting if you can.Alex wrote:I'm here. Not sure what I can contribute. I just want to say thank you to Tracie, for what she's already done for me and to her brother, who has been visiting me in my dreams and led me here.
My name is Alex, and I have AIDS. I was diagnosed HIV positive in 1994 and have been full blown since 2002. Tracie says I remind her alot of Isaiah, and reading through the thread, I see alot he and I have in common. Especially the feeling of being alone.
Anyway, hi everyone!
The loudest truth I ever heard was the softest sound.
-
Menolly
- A Lowly Harper
- Posts: 24184
- Joined: Thu May 19, 2005 12:29 am
- Location: Harper Hall, Fort Hold, Northern Continent, Pern...
- Has thanked: 1 time
- Been thanked: 15 times
- Contact:
Be Welcome to the Watch, Alex.
Be Well Come and True.
Please, come introduce yourself in the Say Hello in Here! thread. Many Watchers read this thread, but I am positive there are many more who don't who would wish you well and support you as they can, once they meet you.
I am glad Stephen led you here.
Be Well Come and True.
Please, come introduce yourself in the Say Hello in Here! thread. Many Watchers read this thread, but I am positive there are many more who don't who would wish you well and support you as they can, once they meet you.
I am glad Stephen led you here.
-
Fist and Faith
- Magister Vitae
- Posts: 25450
- Joined: Sun Dec 01, 2002 8:14 pm
- Has thanked: 9 times
- Been thanked: 57 times
-
Furls Fire
- Lord
- Posts: 4872
- Joined: Mon Aug 04, 2003 10:35 am
- Location: Heaven
Ah, my badgering worked I see (Stephen's too, hehehe)
I'm so happy you registered, now you will see that you are not alone. And you are very welcome. I'm working on a few things, and you should be getting a phone either tomorrow or Monday...I told them it better be tomorrow. You can NOT be without a phone. GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!! (The payphone down the block does not count, you can't call 911 from there!) Sorry..stuff like this just gets me riled.
Check your email...
Huggles Alex!! And welcome to the Watch and Stephen's thread. There is love here.
The real kind.
I'm so happy you registered, now you will see that you are not alone. And you are very welcome. I'm working on a few things, and you should be getting a phone either tomorrow or Monday...I told them it better be tomorrow. You can NOT be without a phone. GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!
(The payphone down the block does not count, you can't call 911 from there!) Sorry..stuff like this just gets me riled. Check your email...
Huggles Alex!! And welcome to the Watch and Stephen's thread. There is love here.
The real kind.
And I believe in you
altho you never asked me too
I will remember you
and what life put you thru.
~fly fly little wing, fly where only angels sing~
~this world was never meant for one as beautiful as you~
...for then I could fly away and be at rest. Sweet rest, Mom. We all love and miss you.
altho you never asked me too
I will remember you
and what life put you thru.
~fly fly little wing, fly where only angels sing~
~this world was never meant for one as beautiful as you~
...for then I could fly away and be at rest. Sweet rest, Mom. We all love and miss you.
Hi again everyone!
Tracie, the phone is working. You must have performed some serious magic to get them here so fast. Thank you for everything. I can now use my old beat up desktop at home with dialup now. No more going to the library and having people stare at me like I'm some kind of ghoul.
Eric, yeah it was quick. Tracie is very persuasive.
Thanks for the welcome Lorin and Menolly! I'm very glad to meet you both!
Tracie, the phone is working. You must have performed some serious magic to get them here so fast. Thank you for everything. I can now use my old beat up desktop at home with dialup now. No more going to the library and having people stare at me like I'm some kind of ghoul.
Eric, yeah it was quick. Tracie is very persuasive.
Thanks for the welcome Lorin and Menolly! I'm very glad to meet you both!
Sweet peace come to me
Calm the chaos churning within
Sweet Jesus enwrap me
Enlighten my heart so dim
My soul seeks Thee
In breathless desperation it cries
Sweet Jesus enwrap me
As my body slowly dies...
--Isaiah John Adderly, found by Tracie Hammon 1/18/06
Calm the chaos churning within
Sweet Jesus enwrap me
Enlighten my heart so dim
My soul seeks Thee
In breathless desperation it cries
Sweet Jesus enwrap me
As my body slowly dies...
--Isaiah John Adderly, found by Tracie Hammon 1/18/06
-
Furls Fire
- Lord
- Posts: 4872
- Joined: Mon Aug 04, 2003 10:35 am
- Location: Heaven
Hehehehe...I know, I got an email from UNAIDS that it had been hooked up per MY instructions...LOL!! I can be so pushy sometimes.
I was talking to Eric on the phone yesterday, and we were discussing how frustrating is for me when someone like Alex comes to me and does not know of all the resources there are out there for people who are HIV/AIDS positive. So, I thought I would post a link to AVERT.org. They have a state by state list of agencies that specialize in helping people who are inflicted.
www.avert.org/hiv_usa.htm
It's not a full list, but it's a start. I belong to several organizations, UNAIDS, AmFAR, AVERT, UNICEF, Africa's Angels (the adoption organization I am a liason for) and a few local ones. And what I do is help people like Alex get the best medical care and life resources that are available to them. So, for anyone, like Alex, who just happens to wander in here (or is compelled by Stephen), feel free to contact me like Alex did, and I will do my best to get you the help that you need.
From Tony Kushner's "Angels in America"
Prior Walter: This disease will be the end of many of us, but not nearly all. And the dead will be commemorated, and we'll struggle on with the living, and we are not going away. We won't die secret deaths anymore. The world only spins forward. We will be citizens. The time has come....More life, the great work begins.
Yes...the great work.
I was talking to Eric on the phone yesterday, and we were discussing how frustrating is for me when someone like Alex comes to me and does not know of all the resources there are out there for people who are HIV/AIDS positive. So, I thought I would post a link to AVERT.org. They have a state by state list of agencies that specialize in helping people who are inflicted.
www.avert.org/hiv_usa.htm
It's not a full list, but it's a start. I belong to several organizations, UNAIDS, AmFAR, AVERT, UNICEF, Africa's Angels (the adoption organization I am a liason for) and a few local ones. And what I do is help people like Alex get the best medical care and life resources that are available to them. So, for anyone, like Alex, who just happens to wander in here (or is compelled by Stephen), feel free to contact me like Alex did, and I will do my best to get you the help that you need.
From Tony Kushner's "Angels in America"
Prior Walter: This disease will be the end of many of us, but not nearly all. And the dead will be commemorated, and we'll struggle on with the living, and we are not going away. We won't die secret deaths anymore. The world only spins forward. We will be citizens. The time has come....More life, the great work begins.
Yes...the great work.
And I believe in you
altho you never asked me too
I will remember you
and what life put you thru.
~fly fly little wing, fly where only angels sing~
~this world was never meant for one as beautiful as you~
...for then I could fly away and be at rest. Sweet rest, Mom. We all love and miss you.
altho you never asked me too
I will remember you
and what life put you thru.
~fly fly little wing, fly where only angels sing~
~this world was never meant for one as beautiful as you~
...for then I could fly away and be at rest. Sweet rest, Mom. We all love and miss you.
That is an excellent mini series, "Angels in America". I admit, I crushed on Justin Kirk, the actor who played Prior Walter.
I loved how at the end he said, "we won't die secret deaths anymore." We've come a long way since the early days of AIDS, but we have so far to go yet.
Tracie, I believe you are a force in the fight. Without you I don't believe we would be as far as we are. I know you think you are only one person and you feel you are "inadequate" at times. But, for what you have done for me (just a few short days), and countless others (your adopted children and Isaiah), the world of AIDS would be that much darker if you were not there to shed the small light in as you do.
I am so grateful to and to your brother for shedding light in my other wise dark world.
*blows kisses*
I loved how at the end he said, "we won't die secret deaths anymore." We've come a long way since the early days of AIDS, but we have so far to go yet.
Tracie, I believe you are a force in the fight. Without you I don't believe we would be as far as we are. I know you think you are only one person and you feel you are "inadequate" at times. But, for what you have done for me (just a few short days), and countless others (your adopted children and Isaiah), the world of AIDS would be that much darker if you were not there to shed the small light in as you do.
I am so grateful to and to your brother for shedding light in my other wise dark world.
*blows kisses*
Sweet peace come to me
Calm the chaos churning within
Sweet Jesus enwrap me
Enlighten my heart so dim
My soul seeks Thee
In breathless desperation it cries
Sweet Jesus enwrap me
As my body slowly dies...
--Isaiah John Adderly, found by Tracie Hammon 1/18/06
Calm the chaos churning within
Sweet Jesus enwrap me
Enlighten my heart so dim
My soul seeks Thee
In breathless desperation it cries
Sweet Jesus enwrap me
As my body slowly dies...
--Isaiah John Adderly, found by Tracie Hammon 1/18/06
-
Furls Fire
- Lord
- Posts: 4872
- Joined: Mon Aug 04, 2003 10:35 am
- Location: Heaven