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In the movie, "Zorba the Greek," Anthony Quinn (Zorba), after the death of a young widow, asked his young friend, and employer, "Why do the young die? Why does anyone die?" His friend answered with, "I don't know." His friend was a learned man, so Quinn asked him, "If you don't know that, what do you know? What good are all your books? What do they tell you?" The young man replied, "They tell me of the agony of men, who can't answer questions such as yours."

On Sunday, March 3, 2002, Cuesta College student, Lauren Slaughter, was killed in an automobile accident. She was only nineteen years old. Because she was a member of the Cuesta Tennis Team, I had to write the article about her, for the school newspaper. It was one of the most difficult things I have ever had to do.

Lauren was in my English class. I had never spoken to her. I had seen her in class, and can remember her name being called. To prepare my article about her, I talked to other people, who did know her. I spoke to several of her friends, and to members of the tennis team. And, the more I talked to people, the more I realized that I had missed someone special.

Lauren was beautiful. She was a friendly, warm, caring person. Lauren loved tennis. Playing for Cuesta, this year, she had a 3-1 record in singles, and was 1-1 in doubles. I would probably have interviewed her in a few weeks, for the sports page in the newspaper. Since she was in my class, I probably would have talked to her more than once. We might have become friends.

Some people reading this, may wonder why I feel the way I do. I never even talked to her, so why should her death affect me so strongly? It's wrong, when you get to the point where the death of someone . . . anyone . . . doesn't matter to you.

I can't speak about the feelings of the people in my English class, because I don't know what their feelings are. One thing which I do know, is that the English teacher is hurt about Lauren's death. But, there were two people, on the staff of the newspaper, who thought of it as nothing more than an "important news story." Why don't they feel for her? I would dread to read the type of dry, cold article that they would write about her. I couldn't do that. I had to write something caring, and warm. Something that was about Lauren, the wonderful girl, and not just about the facts of her death.

Zorba's friend said that his books didn't tell him about death. He wasn't reading the right books. The Bible tells us about death. It tells us that whenever someone dies, Jesus and the angels weep for that person. When Lazarus died, Jesus cried, even though He brought him back to life.

I want to meet Lauren, when Jesus comes back. I want to know this fun, energetic girl, whom I have only seen in passing. I want to be around to help her, in her walk with God. And maybe, when I do see her again, we can play a round of tennis.

© 2002 Nathan Qualls