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Colleen Slemmer

 She’s Christa Pike’s victim. You can’t say anything about anything without the madding crowd demanding “balance” on every question.

Colleen was a person who didn’t deserve to die. She was loved by people, and first by God. She was murdered by Christa Pike more than 30 years ago. Whatever we decide to do with Pike, she did that.

Colleen isn’t coming back here. But if I’m right about God, why would we want her to, on the one hand? On the other, we know from experience that human connection and love is a great solace in this vale of tears. There isn’t enough solace here in human terms, if you’re asking me.

But you don’t get life from death. Christ defeated death. He didn’t make it sunshine and rainbows. Ordinarily, death begets more death. More sorrow. More loss.

Look me in the face and tell me that you want the government who can’t fix our streets and bridges to be meting out death. Don’t answer me from feelings; we know what those often say. If someone killed one of my brothers or my sisters, well, f— them and anyone who ever loved them! That’s how I would feel. At least at first.

Would I want their children dead, too? Friends? Work colleagues? Pets?

The IV and the hospital gurney and the doctor (!) obscures the fact that the rage is still there. Death is still winning. Sorrow will still win. Whether they deserve it isn’t the point. We have to decide whether we want to be part of this thing.

The Church (Catholic) says no. Therefore, I would be arguing with Jesus if I didn’t agree. You’re free to argue with Jesus. You’re free to tell any and every god to take a hike. I’m certain I would rather not live in that world, though.

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