My head is still in a fog over my Dad's passing...
Even though his death was expected, you're never totally prepared when it finally happens. But by the grace of God, life goes on. The Lord is with me.
Meanwhile, some good things happened today. This morning, after I finished my work assignment, I was able to join my best friend Robert in the outdoor recreation yard. It was a drizzly morning with a rainy mist. But the air was fresh and cool. Yet the best part of my yard time was when another man from our church joined Robert and I. He's a fifty-four-year-old black man with a history of drug and alcohol abuse. Presently he's doing a fifteen-year stretch for an armed robbery that involved waving the blade of a small four-inch pocket knife in the face of a homeless man, and snatching a few wrinkled dollar bills from his hand. Alcott (not his real name) was also homeless at the time he committed his crime.
Mister Alcott is HIV positive, having been infected with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus during his years of using dirty needles to get his heroin high. And although he does not have what's known as full-blown AIDS, he's been in and out of the hospital with various "opportunistic" infections. Pitifully thin and emaciated, my soft-spoken Christian brother shared a litany of medical complaints of aches and pains, bleeding gums, bouts of diarrhea and overall weakness with Rob and me.
Alcott thinks he doesn't have too much longer to live. Although, over the years of imprisonment, I have seen many immune-deficient men live for a long time; and I believe this will be the case for him.
Unfortunately, brother Alcott had been convincing himself that, death was approaching. We politely listened to him and allowed Alcott to express his fears and concerns. And while he was talking, Rob and I each placed one of our hands on his shoulders. Then, when he was finished talking, I asked brother Alcott if we could pray for him. He promptly said yes.
So in an obscure corner of the yard as far as possible from curious eyes, the three of us bowed our heads slightly. I asked the Lord Jesus to give my brother extra grace and strength as he tried to cope with his illness. I also asked the Lord to place His healing touch upon brother Alcott's body, as well as grant him peace of mind and inward rest that would quiet the fear within his soul.
Finally, Robert and I assured our brother that Jesus will never leave or reject him, but will always love and embrace him in spite of his HIV.
D.B.
Meanwhile, some good things happened today. This morning, after I finished my work assignment, I was able to join my best friend Robert in the outdoor recreation yard. It was a drizzly morning with a rainy mist. But the air was fresh and cool. Yet the best part of my yard time was when another man from our church joined Robert and I. He's a fifty-four-year-old black man with a history of drug and alcohol abuse. Presently he's doing a fifteen-year stretch for an armed robbery that involved waving the blade of a small four-inch pocket knife in the face of a homeless man, and snatching a few wrinkled dollar bills from his hand. Alcott (not his real name) was also homeless at the time he committed his crime.
Mister Alcott is HIV positive, having been infected with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus during his years of using dirty needles to get his heroin high. And although he does not have what's known as full-blown AIDS, he's been in and out of the hospital with various "opportunistic" infections. Pitifully thin and emaciated, my soft-spoken Christian brother shared a litany of medical complaints of aches and pains, bleeding gums, bouts of diarrhea and overall weakness with Rob and me.
Alcott thinks he doesn't have too much longer to live. Although, over the years of imprisonment, I have seen many immune-deficient men live for a long time; and I believe this will be the case for him.
Unfortunately, brother Alcott had been convincing himself that, death was approaching. We politely listened to him and allowed Alcott to express his fears and concerns. And while he was talking, Rob and I each placed one of our hands on his shoulders. Then, when he was finished talking, I asked brother Alcott if we could pray for him. He promptly said yes.
So in an obscure corner of the yard as far as possible from curious eyes, the three of us bowed our heads slightly. I asked the Lord Jesus to give my brother extra grace and strength as he tried to cope with his illness. I also asked the Lord to place His healing touch upon brother Alcott's body, as well as grant him peace of mind and inward rest that would quiet the fear within his soul.
Finally, Robert and I assured our brother that Jesus will never leave or reject him, but will always love and embrace him in spite of his HIV.
D.B.
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