In re-reading this letter , and having known Brother Mendenhall personally, I was reminded of some comments written by the Right Reverend Barbara Brown Taylor in her book, Bread of Angels:

My dearest “Sig Ep” brothers:

There really is no way I can express to you how much Georgia Delta (University of Georgia) has meant to me these past 11 years. I appreciate all you have done and are continuing to do for me. I regret the necessity to resign as chapter Counselor; but we cannot plan everything in our lives to happen when or how we might wish. I want you all to know that each of you is a very special person, loved and respected by me very much. Never be afraid to love, to express it, to “be kindly affectionate one to the other.” Brotherhood is one thing, but “Sig Ep” Brotherly Love runs even deeper. Have standards and try your damnedest to live up to them, realizing none of us ever really do.

We must all face reality; however, my time on this earth is rapidly running short. I am trying to hang on for a month or two, but who can say I have already beat my 1 ½-year prognosis by 6 months. But I am so toxified and saturated that the medication has just about run its course. I have fought the fight and have had a meaningful and rewarding life in 45 years. I am at peace; likewise, I want each of you to be at peace. I am grateful for the opportunity to have completed my earthly task with some dignity and one hell of a lot of fun. Never forget the power of the Ritual; it has sustained me (and will sustain you) through many difficult times. Always remember you are a SIGMA PHI EPSILON for life.

I read to you last Monday evening from The Ritual (which for obvious reasons, I cannot put in here in writing). So I want to leave you with four quotes from Kubler-Ross (1978) focusing on living and life rather than dying and death. I hope over the years you can reflect back on both The Ritual and these quotes and be able to behavioralize them in your life.

“It is fear and guilt that are the only enemies of humankind, and if we have the courage to face our own fears and guilts and unfinished business, we will emerge more self-respecting and self-loving and more courageous to face whatever windstorms come in our direction.”

“Human beings have one great asset over all other living things, and that is that they have free choice. We are not powerless specks of dust drifting around in the wind, blown by random destiny.”

“The choice is always ours.”

“Those who have been able to externalize their fears and frustrations, their guilts, and their unfinished business remain stuck in them. Those who have had the courage to scream and rage, if necessary, to question God, to share their pain and agony are the ones who have touched our very being!”

“I wondered where my soul might be; I searched for God but he eluded me: I sought my brother, and found all three.”

God Bless!

Fraternally,

Bill Mendenhall