January 2008

“When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality.” (Romans 12:13, New Living Translation)

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hen we have insight into a situation or a person, we are able to see with understanding, with a certain penetration and with that insight, can come the desire and the power to take action. Empathy, as opposed to sympathy, is what we feel when we actually ‘enter into’ the world of another person. It has been said that empathy gives us a stronger, wiser base and so, it provides a foundation upon which we can live fully, engaged in our world and in the lives of others. This month as we explore the Church’s role in addressing the issue of HIV/AIDS, as we reflect on the call to ‘break the silence,’ we are being reminded in a powerful way, that we cannot afford to be Christ’s ‘silent partner’; rather we are being called to conversation and to community and to representing God through our living, active, participating presence in the world. This means that as Church, we do not have the luxury of choosing only those topics and issues with which we are comfortable – because God’s people inhabit all manner of spaces and circumstances. It may be that what has kept us silent is the fact that this issue feels all to close to us – there but for the grace of God go I - and so we have to distance ourselves or risk having to confront some truths about our own actions and choices.

True breaking of the silence represents the beginning of our call to service. As we listen to the plight of our sisters and brothers, as we share something of ourselves with them, doing so in an atmosphere of respect and dignity, we honor their God-given humanity. While statistics and facts may bring the issue to our attention and thus open the door to necessary dialogue, what will keep us invested and committed is the human face and our realization that we are to welcome one another, with generosity of spirit and heartfelt caring. Allowing ourselves to be vulnerable to others, to their pain and suffering, is risky – love is risky – but the outcome can be priceless for both the giver and the receiver and in the midst of this communion, our God will rejoice over us with singing!

We pause to applaud the undertakings of clergy like Dr. Deborah Hoy-Jones and the Fort Foote Baptist Church for breaking the silence. Their boldness to educate the church and community should inspire other churches to get involved with educating its community and members about the real epidemic within our boarders. We here at Chap’s Expressions have been so impressed with the openness and frankness with which Dr. Hoy-Jones and her church community taught their leadership about this taboo subject that has infected the African-American community in the nation’s capitol region. She has pulled at our heartstrings with her ability to employ the Holy Scriptures to teach the leadership of their important role of disciplining families who have loved ones infected with HIV. Dr. Hoy-Jones and the Fort Foote Baptist Church please stand and take a bow for being a forerunner for others to follow.