In Honor and Memory…

I didn’t know Cassi very well. I saw her once a week for a semester as we met in Dr. Sanders’ office for class. It was just the two of us in our “Spiritual Practices” class. I remember being nervous. I always get nervous when I meet new people. I clam up and can’t say a darn thing that sounds intelligent. I wish I could. I wish it would pour out of me like a normal person. She seemed like the person who was friends with everyone she met. Her faith in God was stronger than mine had ever been; I envied that in her. I could only dream of a faith that strong and secure.

Cassi died in June 2010. It was a rare issue. I don’t even know all the details. Good ol’ Facebook helped to fill in some of the gaps. The point was she was only 20 years old. She didn’t eve get to see her 21st birthday. Her death, as tragic as it was, left an imprint so big that the Warner University campus has still not recovered from it. Suddenly, this Christian based campus is asking the hard questions of “why, God, why? Why her? Why now?” We’re forced to wrestle with the unanswerable and deal with the silence; but God is working. There’s a Brooklyn Tabernacle song entitled “God is working”. It’s a beautiful piece of lyrical mastery. It’s also a simple truth that speaks volumes.

I only knew her truly for a semester. She said “hi” every time she saw me. I still think of her whenever I pass by the Ministry building. She left an imprint on my soul. I want to develop her faith. I wish we would’ve had time to sit and talk about it; I wish she had more time, for her sake and others; I wish I could help those hurting more than me. Instead, I pray. I ask God to help me honor her memory through my own faith and never forget her. I don’t ever want to forget her, even though I barely knew her.

A Letter to an Old Friend

Dear Social Calendar,

I apologize for the rude remarks I made a few weeks ago about not having much of a life. I realize I spoke far too harshly and too soon. I promise I did not mean it. That being said, I wanted to also let you know that your retaliation, regardless of how hurt you may be, is harsh and uncalled for. My currently retracted statement did not require you to fill every second of every day with an event. A few hours of breathing space besides sleeping would have been a nice courtesy.

I do hope this apology will reach you quickly because I am not sure how much longer I can handle weeks like this. Please do not make me suffer long. I apologize once again for hurting your feelings and I will never say such mean things again.

Sincerely and with all the love in my heart,

Megan C. Weatherly