A State of Grace....

It's World AIDS Day...The number of cases continues to grow.  Many who live with the disease aren't able to afford the life sustaining medicines.  Some don't know they have it because they don't believe themselves to be at risk or just don't want to know their status (which is very different from, say....a Facebook status).  I light a candle and say a prayer for those infected and affected.

Four young African-American men who are/were student athletes at Hofstra University in New York, were arrested for stealing more than $20,000 in Apple products....from fellow students.  According to the report on CNN, they were afforded access into student dorm rooms and other areas because of their positions on the basketball team at the school.  While talking with Dale about this, I had so many questions about whether or not they could reason that if they held out for four years, their lives might change for the better.  I suggested that their immediate needs were being met as a result of their school situation.  Even so, Dale made the point that as athletes, they can't work so the things they 'wanted' for were probably missing.  Now, they face criminal charges, possible time in prison and may be marked for life as felons.  It's disheartening that they couldn't see or didn't care about the end game being more important than the short game.  Some lessons are, proverbially, learned the hard way.

Headed to Frankie Beverly and Maze tonight.  I HAVE NEVER SEEN THEM PERFORM, for as long as they have been performing.  We were gifted the VIP tickets, and a new and fast friend is Grace sitting.  Date night lives in a big way for this southern girl :o)

In spite of and because of the things in this life, I aim for a constant state of Grace...and it's not of myself...it's a gift from God.