From the desk of Rod Fletcher, Headmaster:

I am not typically an emotional man, but the range of emotions I have experienced over the past few weeks has been overwhelming.   But, to my amazement, people in our Brook Hill community have come alongside me with encouraging words about my leadership and strength during these difficult days.

If the truth be known, however, many times these past weeks I have not felt very strong and certainly not like a strong leader. Candidly, over the past couple of weeks, what I have felt most often is sad.  Sad because I have lost a friend, colleague, fellow parent and mother of three Brook Hill students.  Sad because I have lost a vibrant student with an incredibly bright future ahead of him.  Dana won’t be working right down the hall from me anymore – that is sad. Pasha won’t be going with me to Catalina Island on our SPARC trip this week – that is sad.  And, the more I think about it, the sadder I get. Growing up, my mom would often say to me, “feelings are valid.”  It drove me crazy when she said it, but I think she was right.  I think I will be sad for a long time.  I don’t think Brook Hill will ever be the same – that is sad.

But oddly, I am also glad. Glad that I was able to work with Dana and witness the life of a loving mother, devoted wife, and committed Christ-follower. Glad that I got to know Pasha, watch him thrive at Brook Hill and positively impact so many people, and read his testimony as a believer that he wrote just a few days before he died. Glad that I was reminded this past week that God shows up when His people mourn.  Glad that I experienced and witnessed the truth from Psalm 34:18 that says, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”

Watching the strength of the Regester Family and Zapolskyy family, as they graciously attended not only their own loved ones’ visitation and funeral but also each other’s was evidence to me that God provides super-natural strength and comfort in times of sorrow – I am glad I got to see that.  I am glad I got to see the Chadwell family live out Christ’s love by serving the Zapolskyy family.  I am glad that the Brook Hill Family did just what I would hope that the Brook Hill Family would do – stand together, support each other, and look to and rely upon God.  I am glad that our students initiated a prayer vigil in a time of sorrow.   I am glad that a Brook Hill Senior addressed a need by initiating a fund-raising effort for the families. I am glad that I received hundreds of supportive texts and emails from the community and witnessed hundreds more on social media say things like a Brook Hill senior tweeted – “A cord of three strands is not easily broken – Ecclesiastes  4:12. The BH family is over 500 strong. We will not be easily broken.”

I think these may have been the hardest weeks of my life.  As the Headmaster of The Brook Hill School I feel like I have lost part of MY family. But, you know what, I feel closer to God than I ever have – and I am very glad about that. How can I feel close to God at a time like this?  Because when believers go through trials, God shows up. I saw God show up for the Regester and Zapolskyy family and I saw God show up for the Brook Hill Family. This has been felt so deeply by the Brook Hill Family because the love of the Brook Hill Family is so deep.

So what now?  It seems cliché, but Dana and Pasha would want us to move forward, glorify God, and live well. Why am I confident of that?  Because that is how they lived.  Both Dana and Pasha were vibrant, positive, and intentional people.  They enjoyed life, appreciated life, and lived life well.  As we wonder what we can do to honor them, I am confident that one way we can do it is by living life the way that they lived it.  We cannot help but feel sad.  But we can choose to live glad.

Psalm 118:24  This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it.