When I was in university, I was at a loss. I was at a loss of what to study. What did I want to do? Where did I want to go? I knew not the direction I was heading in. Mark Carter was my RD, my Resident Director. He was a great man of God and I loved hanging out with him and he was very supportive. His wife, Rebecca was the career counselor there at Simpson University in Redding, CA. She was the sweetest woman I knew. She was very helpful and played a huge roll in my college career. During my junior year and a big chunk of the following year, I met with Rebecca Carter to determine what course of study I wanted to do, which direction I wanted to go in. I prayed and prayed. We hashed out ideas after ideas and determined that Christian camping is where my heart was truly at. We became friends and I looked forward to our times together. She loved the Lord and made that her driving force behind what she did.
A year or two ago, I heard some devastating news that Rebecca lost a fight to cancer and went home to be with her Savior. She lost to cancer, but she won at life. She is now living with Jesus and living the best career anyone can hope for. Rebecca was an inspiration. She had this beauty and smile that just made you feel good about yourself. I will miss her and look forward to seeing her again soon.
As I met with her in her office, we finally determined that the major of "General Ministry" would be the best course of action for me. It was a mixture of youth ministry, missions and pastoral studies. Whereas I wanted to go into camp ministry, Simpson didn't offer a camping major which at the time I didn't know existed. Therefore, this general major made sense. The year I graduated they offered, "Outdoor Leadership," which I would've jumped at if it was offered earlier. But I was happy with general ministry but often hesitate when people ask me, even today what I studied in college. The reason for this being the generic nature of the major. It has "general" in it's name. There are some who focus on the "ministry" and wonder why I'm not using my major. I never wanted to be a pastor or minister, etc. But the general public misunderstand. Of course starting my own camp has been festering on the back burner for some time.
Rebecca Carter helped fuel the fire in me. She assisted me in finding out what I truly want. She played a pivotal part in my desire for children's ministry. One can wonder why she was taken when she was, but God has reasons and they are not our reasons. We may not understand, but we can believe and have faith and trust and obey. As hard as it is to believe, we can be assured that her work here was done and God took her home. Our work remains unfinished. And we will be reunited soon.
I thank you Rebecca for your love, for your service and for your willingness to help the least of these. You are missed. Your loving nature exudes magnificence and your beauty remains. I will always remember you and your faithfulness. I owe you many thanks. I miss you and grieve with Mark at your passing. But it's not a true passing, for we will see you again shortly...and discuss things of adoration. Talk to you soon sister. Go with God.
Sunday, May 8, 2016
Saturday, May 7, 2016
Running on Streets of Gold
I graduated high school in 2002. It is now 2016. Through my sophomore, junior and senior years of high school (2000-2001) I learned that my good friend from Elementary School, Cassandra Owens, Cassie to her friends was diagnosed with cancer.
I learned that she was wheelchair bound and lost a leg to cancer. She was in the newspaper and a friend who was on my cross country team knew her some as well. The reason was because Cassie was also a runner. When I knew her in grade school she was not a runner. In fact, we both didn't like to run at all. Now look at us. We were both runners. I regret losing contact with her because she was a great friend to me. She was the sweetest person you ever did meet.
Anyhow, a little while later, sometime in the beginning of the 2000s, she lost her life and was united with God in her Heavenly home. This news hurt. She lived for God. She loved to run. She ran for His pleasure. That was her joy. She wasn't ever a fast runner. I wasn't ever a fast runner. But we both enjoyed it. When Cassie was bound to the wheelchair, her dream was to be able to run again. I have faith and I know that when the Lord called her home, her first order of business was to strap on some Heavenly running shoes and hit the track...hit the track of gold. She is running on the streets of gold while conversing with her Lord.
Those of us who have not yet gone home wonder why. Why is it that the Lord has called her and not me? She was the most gentle person I knew of. She didn't have a mean bone in her body. She was on fire for the Lord and cared for the interests of others rather than herself. She lived in humility and I wish I could have known her in her later years here on earth, but I trust that she was living every second and running every second for Jesus Christ. I miss you Cassie and look forward to seeing you again soon.
As I lament here, I want to remember Cassandra Owens. I want to remember Cassie as who she was and who she is. There is a picture I have somewhere from Kindergarten graduation where Cassie and I are talking with each other. I wish I could find it and attach it. But let's just say I remember her well. She was kind, gentle and humbling. She was strong, courageous and I am sure she grew to be a daughter of God until she went to her House in the Heavenly Realms.
You are missed, but your legacy remains. See you soon my sister in Christ. See you soon Cassie.
I learned that she was wheelchair bound and lost a leg to cancer. She was in the newspaper and a friend who was on my cross country team knew her some as well. The reason was because Cassie was also a runner. When I knew her in grade school she was not a runner. In fact, we both didn't like to run at all. Now look at us. We were both runners. I regret losing contact with her because she was a great friend to me. She was the sweetest person you ever did meet.
Anyhow, a little while later, sometime in the beginning of the 2000s, she lost her life and was united with God in her Heavenly home. This news hurt. She lived for God. She loved to run. She ran for His pleasure. That was her joy. She wasn't ever a fast runner. I wasn't ever a fast runner. But we both enjoyed it. When Cassie was bound to the wheelchair, her dream was to be able to run again. I have faith and I know that when the Lord called her home, her first order of business was to strap on some Heavenly running shoes and hit the track...hit the track of gold. She is running on the streets of gold while conversing with her Lord.
Those of us who have not yet gone home wonder why. Why is it that the Lord has called her and not me? She was the most gentle person I knew of. She didn't have a mean bone in her body. She was on fire for the Lord and cared for the interests of others rather than herself. She lived in humility and I wish I could have known her in her later years here on earth, but I trust that she was living every second and running every second for Jesus Christ. I miss you Cassie and look forward to seeing you again soon.
As I lament here, I want to remember Cassandra Owens. I want to remember Cassie as who she was and who she is. There is a picture I have somewhere from Kindergarten graduation where Cassie and I are talking with each other. I wish I could find it and attach it. But let's just say I remember her well. She was kind, gentle and humbling. She was strong, courageous and I am sure she grew to be a daughter of God until she went to her House in the Heavenly Realms.
You are missed, but your legacy remains. See you soon my sister in Christ. See you soon Cassie.
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