Paul Ashton, who holds doctorates in psychology and ministry, has provided care for those affected by HIV/AIDS for more than 20 years. He designed the Etched in Hope journal for those living with that illness. Each of the 52 entries consists of a reflection, brief biography of a saint or other holy person, scripture passage, quotation of the week, and activity. The following example shows how all the pieces fit together.
The Week 19 reflection is about the experience of "hanging by a thread" and "holding on for dear life." Times like these, in which we feel nothing but our current pain, can be filled with grace, writes Ashton. "Grace is an invisible booster shot of courage that infuses us with strength and determination we never thought we had." The saint of the week is Rita of Cascia, who lived in the middle ages. Custom required her to marry an older man. Her husband was cruel, and the marriage painful. Rita held on, raising two sons. After her husband died, Rita hoped to enter the convent, but was turned down because she was not a virgin. She persisted until the superior relented. The week's scripture from 1 Corinthians speaks of the need to work hard and accept God's grace. A quote from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops rejects the idea that HIV/AIDS is a direct punishment from God and states that "nothing in the bible or Catholic teaching can be used to justify prejudicial or discriminatory attitudes and behaviors." The accompanying activity consists of a circle with three stick figures and spaces for names of those who have "held tightly to the other end of your thread" when you were in crisis. The idea is to call each person and express your thanks. If one of them has died, the author suggests offering prayers and visiting his or her grave.
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