World AIDS Day - December 1st

World AIDS Day - Today I'm daring to imagine a world without AIDS. I'm praying for those who have it, those who will contract it, those who won't survive it, those who have lost people they love because of it, those who judge and do not understand it, those who can help make a difference in a world that knows it and for a cure that will conquer it.

I'm observing and participating in raising awareness for AIDS today. I've never really gotten involved before, but this year, due to a community event at the seminary I attend, I have become involved and passionately so. I want to do so much more than just raise awareness and hand out resources, but I realize that each step I take and each word I speak out on AIDS makes a difference.

It reminds me of the story about the star fish. There was an old man walking along a beach. In the distance he notices that hundreds and thousands of star fish have washed up upon the shore. He also sees a little boy walking along the beach, picking up star fish and throwing them back into the sea, one my one. The old man asks the young boy, "don't you know you can't save them all? What you're doing isn't going to make a difference or even matter." The little boy responds to the old man by picking up another star fish. He looks at the fish, then up at the old man. The little boys tosses the star fish into the ocean and says, "it mattered to that one."

It might feel today that doing something, anything, is just picking up star fish out of a shore full of them, but know this, whatever you do, big or little...it matters. Do it in the love that Christ has shown you and dare to imagine a world without AIDS. Step up today, grab a star fish and make a difference.

How will you observe World AIDS Day?

I challenge you to post on Twitter, Facebook and your Blog about World AIDS Day. Let your voice be heard as it will be the loud speaker on which millions of voices will be heard.