A LIFE CHANGED part 6, chapter 77

What is in the gentle “touch of a hand” – an entire life.      

I appreciated receiving this letter from one hurt deeply by the experiences of the difficult school year. The letters put into clear perspective the problems being faced.     

                                                                    

“I felt this hand as I sat waiting to be called before Student Life Committee. I was trembling, confused and alone. I wondered what I had done that was so egregious. What were they going to do?  What were they going to say? What was I going to say in defense? Who was going to be there?  What shame would I bring to my parents? I was so young - just a teenager with wild enthusiasm for life – and unfettered hope for my future.

“As I turned around, I saw my father. His warmth and love was overwhelming. He said quietly and confidently: “you are not going in there, I am” and with that he left and the door closed slowly behind him. To this day, I cannot keep from welling up inside as I remember the love my father showed me that dreadful day. His touch is still felt every day of my life.  He was a man of principle and always sought to do the right thing. He had come to CBC that day to take care of business – business that was far bigger than the problem I was facing. My father had dedicated his life to young people and, not only did he change life for me that day, he changed the lives of hundreds of students who followed their dream at CBC for years after that closed door meeting.

“I do not know what went on behind that closed door, but I can share what happened outside that door.   It all began being a roommate to a challenging individual. I had been asked on a number of occasions to be an accomplice to accommodate certain behavior but refused.  Early one evening, while studying in the library, a page came for my roommate. I knew she was off campus. I froze. Nothing but trouble could follow this unanswered page. My roommate had shared a number of things with me that I had committed to confidence. My only concern at that point was that she would not face disaster. She did. She was expelled.

“When the Dean of Women called me to her office I was told it was my responsibility to tell her everything about my roommate and share anything I knew about her since she arrived on campus. I refused. The conversations we had as roommates were shared “in confidence” and under no circumstances would I ever break a confidence. Keeping a confidence was the foundation of my character and one of the principles most honored in our home. A confidence, if repeated, could ruin a fragile life – it just never occurred to me to do otherwise. I suggested to the Dean of Women that she speak to my roommate and get her to talk. It was her story and her obligation – not mine. This was not my issue. I had done nothing!

“As I was not party to any of my roommate’s decisions, especially this one to leave campus that evening without permission, I felt that I had handled the situation as well as I could. Later, when sharing the story with my parents – they agreed. That was good enough for me. BUT, it was not good enough for the Dean of Women, two highly respected Professors and the President.  It is astounding to me as I reflect, how they intimidated and tortured under the guise of “righteous indignation”. These “spiritual leaders”, allegedly called of God to train young people, be mentors, demonstrate a spirit of non-judgment, joined forces to find fault and declared that I was obligated “under God” to speak. I did not. I asked myself the question: Did we serve the same God? How could we be so far apart on this principle? I stood blameless, but was yet blamed.

“I will keep this short, but what followed changed my life forever and I firmly believe if it had not been for my father and mother . . .

To be continued….