I think that I grew up in a family wherein secrets were a norm, not necessarily an anomaly.

I have reached a critical juncture in my life wherein I refuse to hold ‘family secrets’. I think every family – every individual has secrets. Everyone, every family has the right to have secrets.

The flip side is that the persons who the secrets affect are usually not in the position to decide whether or not to conceal or reveal the information.

Seconds, minutes, hours, days, years and sometimes generations pass before truth is uncovered. What then are the effects? What of the aftermath? Are the original players present to witness what unfolds? A lot of times they are not. Sometimes the people who didn’t sign up to conceal the “family secret” are left to deal with the clean up; the sins of others.

We keep secrets for different reasons: for example, self-preservation is the most likely reason for secret-keeping. Some people desire to protect their perceived reputation in the public. Other people seek to protect others who are involved or are present when the secrecy pact is inaugurated.
~to be continued…

We had a couple share their personal story of adopting 2 boys from Ethiopia. The first boy was healthy. Some years later, they felt led to adopt another child, and specifically an AIDS orphan. This was a bold step! You may read her blog at 4blessed.blogspot.com.

After the remembrance service ended, a friend rushed to me and said, “Next year, we must have more pepople here, and fill up the sanctuary; I’m head of social action, and I’m gonna make sure it happens!”

I like that! It’s about all of us making a concerted effort to do something. As I lit my candle, my prayer is that we see a cure for HIV/AIDS in my lifetime.

Peace out, D