Date: 2012-06-27
From: Ruth, Mississippi

To: Providence Baptist Church
Miles today: 0.0

11:59 pm   So fitting to place this writing here- and that I could only find a purple pen. All she had to look at was herself   and the children she so loved,   her soulmate Walter,   her brothers, Willie and Timothy,   her parents, Big Willie and Ms. KatinaMississippi isn't easy   Samantha Carlisle knew about hard timesbut the strength she learned   from her momma and daddy   and being a big sister   to ummm, rambunctious little brothers prepared her for the path she would followI first heard of Sam    from my little sister and my brotherWhen my sister needed a place to stay,the Carlisle's always took her in.But to my brother she became more than his kid sister's friend.Sam and Walter grew up through each other.I can remember    two weeks before Eli was born,   Hurricane Katrina   was heading their wayI called from Florida   and told the Carlisle's to get far from town.   Sam wasn't there   My brother said the they were stayingThe next time I talked to her   she told me,   "My daddy says if you ever tell us to leave again, we are GONE!"I told her the next time, I 'll talk to you or Ms. KatinaAll she had to look at    as the years went by   was her beautiful family            Elijah            Railey            and             WaylonI have never had children of my own.I can only know a good mother when I see one.Samantha, was the best of the best.The last time I saw her, she was holding Railey over the belly that would be WaylonI never met my youngest nephewTime and distance just got in the wayWe had plans to hook up the next time, the next visit....I was coming next monthI was going to share my picturesSam wanted to    go somewhere   see something   and record it all on her camera.She loved   natural things   nature things         a wildflower         a sun ray         a butterfly passing by.And her zest for life      showed in the beautiful smile we know so well.The last time I talked with Sam she said she thought she would die young.I laughed and said it would be me first         we joked         and said we would speak at each other's funerals         and like always         we would say         I love you         then think of 10 more things to say         and say, I love you again and again            because she wouldn't end a call without those last words.On Sunday, I was in the Appalachian Mountains.I had hiked over 100 miles of trailand had the time of my travels embedded deep within my skin.One of the main concerns      the main focus,      of a hiker,      is where to get water along the way.About midday I sat down by a stream   my water bag was full   the two hikers I was with   went out of view.I didn't need to be there   but still I sat   and listened   to the mountain water   tumble over the rocks.I had been telling Walter stories all dayand couldn't wait to tell Sam that folks up there in Virginia call a bologne sandwicha mule burger.I left the stream   and decided I needed to go to town.Sam died a heroes death.She and Johnny did not hesitate.We all know she would not have come out of that water without her child.That first night,   as i made my way here   I tried to sleep,and like anyone else-I didn't.I thought of Ruth.I went to the internetand of course, Wikipedia pops upand say there are four things of importance about RuthUnder "Ethical Importance"Inclusivity- Ruth voluntarily embraces Naomi's people, land culture and god.Loving KindnessGod's Providential careIntegrity-the virtue of maintaining personal integrity.Then I remembered I was in a hotel and opened every drawer until I found a Gideon's Bible. Samantha's story was written before she was born,       as was Walyon's       as is all of ours.May we take from our sadness and utter grief   a sense of peace   that they are together   forever    watching us from above.My dear baby brother,   hold those two babies close   and be the father   that would make Sam proud.Big Willie, and Ms. Katina and family,   No one in this room can know your pain   but in one way or another   we knew Sam and Waylon,Their love will live on in the people they have touched.All I can think about now   is that   Sam sure is getting to see the most beautiful things   more glorious than any man can believeMy pictures just couldn't compare.