Please excuse my absence. I haven't graced the world wide web with my thoughts through my fingertips, tapped through a keypad, and stored online. I've been moving & shaking, and shaking & moving. I can elaborate in future posts when I have the time, but honestly I want my own website and I'm working towards that. I'll have it soon enough because I am enjoying and have plans for the future, which I will attain (Lord willingly).
I wanted to highlight a special day, which was a few Sundays ago, May 16th. I participated in the NYC AIDS Walk 2010. This was the second year in a row that I participated and help raise $500 personally, but around $8,000 with the help of my entire team: GMHC-WBLS M.A.D. Soul Runners. We had a group of 100-120 young and seasoned individuals from our local Harlem community and from abroad (e.g. as far as New Orleans). I walked in remembrance of my father, Nicholas Figueroa, and the handful of close relatives that I have lost in the past to their own personal battles with the virus. HIV/AIDS claims the lives of many and I can say that I'm here to help prevent it from spreading. I'm doing the research at the Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center, but what is truly going to stop it from spreading is informing people of safe methods to have sex and how to protect themselves from those that wish to continue to spread HIV/AIDS either willingly or unwillingly (i.e. for those that choose not to know their status, and never get tested). I walked with friends and family members from Harlem and my church community, First Corinthian Baptist Church (FCBC). We walked for about 3-4 hours taking our time. We met new people, heard the stories of many, and gave our personal testimonies of why we were walking. After taking that 6.2 mile long walk we went to BBQ's and ate a good meal.
Now, on my way uptown I was escorting my good friend Maria A. Davis back to her apartment building. When we reached 116th Street we were posted up on the sidewalk for a little while and a woman who was walking with the alacrity of a speedwalker began to pass us by. Maria quickly asked her if she was hungry, because her spirit was moved and proceeded to ask her. We all had Styrofoam containers with food from BBQ's. We all combined our containers into one big plastic bag and handed it to her. Then Maria began to dig deeper and see if she needed anything else. She reached deep inside and told us. We purchased her a new shirt, some jeans, socks, and shoe strings. In the process of getting all that she would enter stores asking for what she wanted and they would tell her to get out. All because they saw what was out on the facade. She might have been strung out, but she had needs to. Now when I entered in they offered me their business. Before we were to part we all joined hands on the street corner and began to pray; not only for her, but for ourselves and others. It was very emotional because that same day of taking part in the AIDS Walk we met a woman named Natasha, who was living with AIDS. May 16th happened to be her 30th birthday. She didn't look 30, but her body had grown weary from abuse mentally from others, through drugs, and the toll the virus took on her being. Through all that I cried like I never cried before and she saw me and wiped away my tear.
That day Natasha grew far more than I have. She saw my tear fall, and the hurt and pain on my face. Despite having been abused by her only family, and native New Yorkers she wiped my tear. I haven't seen her since, but I still look out for her. I owe her a birthday cake. I hope I see her soon, because there's more that I can do to help.
I know this post is long, but this goes to show why I choose not to walk in the streets with headphones in my ears listening to music. You never know when you'll cross paths with another human being that might need your helping hand or time. I just wanted to share, because people walk along in life without truly living and helping someone else along.
Live life with the Kingdom in mind. The Kingdom is here on Earth, but only if you believe.
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1 comment:
The introspection, wisdom and purity of your posts never cease to amaze me. On Sunday, my Pastor said 'Chrisianity is not a preference: it is a conviction.' You're obedience to your soul and your empathy for mankind reflects that you ARE leading a life in the Kingdom. You don't choose what you do- your conviction is what moves you. May you continue to follow that-and may God bless you.
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