Faith, Hope, Love, and HIV (Part 4)

Some people will read the page for Annette and blame her family's religious heritage for her decision to start a relationship with a pimp, and eventually use her body to obtain crack cocaine, until she was eventually diagnosed with HIV.  Annette herself is likely to know better, because even if her family could have done a few things differently, she describes her actions as rebellious.                                                               Did Annette's Dad, a preacher, ever read to her the words of Solomon in Proverbs 3:1-8?                       "My son, do not forget my teaching,                     but let your heart keep my commandments,          for length of days and years of life                       and peace they will add to you.

Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you;
bind them around your neck;
write them on the tablet of your heart.
So you will find favor and good success
in the sight of God and man.
Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.          In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths.                                                                                                   Be not wise in your own eyes;
fear the LORD, and turn away from evil.
It will be healing to your flesh
and refreshment to your bones."

Sounds a lot like what God intended for Annette's life.  Yet He loves her, though she was rebellious.  Yet He loves her, though she has used drugs, and been used by others so that she could get drugs.  Yet He loves her, though she has HIV.  As much as I want to start writing about how my own sins are no less grievous to God than those of Annette, I'll stick to the topic of Annette's HIVstopswithme.org ad, at least for now, at least for this blog.

On March 7, 2012, Annette spoke up on the campaign's website, saying, "I also don’t believe all you have to do is pop a pill and everything will be okay. A lot of young people are having sex much younger and don’t believe contracting HIV can happen to them."  Well said, Annette.  Well, almost.  It's not just Annette's opinion that oral contraceptives don't do a thing to prevent someone from contracting HIV.  That's a fact.  As it pertains to contracting HIV, it's not that having sex outside of marriage at a young age is significantly worse than having sex outside of marriage at any other age; it's just that the earlier you start, the more likely you are to get HIV during your lifetime.  If an HIV negative couple, a young man and a young woman, are old enough to legally get married, then there's nothing safer or healthier than for them to start that lifelong monogamous heterosexual relationship we call marriage, and start having sex at a young age.  In all likelihood, however, Annette was probably referring to young teens and preteens who are having sex, and thinking that they can't contract HIV.