Pray HIV week 2: Love and HateAndy Freeman - 9 Nov 2011

Month of Prayer for HIV and AIDS in the run up to World AIDS day.

Back when I was growing up, there was a simple thing all the cool kids at school did.  If you wanted to look a bit edgy , if you wanted to make a statement .... it was simple.  You got out a pen and wrote two words on the knuckes of either hand.  On one you’d write ‘Love’ and on the other you’d write ‘Hate’.  It’d be a sure thing to make people think you’re a rebel !!!

I was remembering those times as I was thinking about HIV/AIDS.  Love and Hate have much to answer for when it comes to the virus.  Maybe not love in the terms we’d hope or aspire to ... but many men, all around the world today have convinced women to take a risk, to have sex (often unprotected) ... all in the name of love.  Sometimes it’s meant.  Often times it’s not.  Love should free us, release us, enable us to be fully human.  HIV has meant sometimes love only leading to death. 

Hate also has a lot to do with HIV.  Rape, forced sex, the persecution of women, the stigmatisation of people for their sexual choices.  There’s quite a lot of hate going around.

This week, as you pray for HIV/AIDS I’d like you to write HIV on one hand’s knuckes and AIDS on the other.  As you pray ponder these words of ‘love’ and ‘hate’ and consider what God might want to say.  What’s His perspective ?
Think about how you can show genuine love and compassion to those facing HIV today.

HIV does not make people dangerous to know, so you can shake their hands and give them a hug: Heaven knows they need it.”
Princess Diana

This month 24-7 are commiting to pray for HIV and AIDS in the run up to world AIDS day on 1st December. To find our more read Andy Freemans excellent article and download the first part of our PrayHIV prayer guide.

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