Charis–A Singular Soul

By Nolyn Starbuck

Although Charis and I were college chums at BYU for only a brief time, my memories of that time have remained vivid all my life.  We shared a love of poetry and good literature.  I admired her writing gifts, and was grateful for the encouragement she gave me to develop my own talents.

We may not have been sisters in mortality, but I have always felt that she is my spiritual sister. I can close my eyes and see her face as clearly as if she were standing in front of me.  I sometimes see her in my dreams, and whenever I think of her or dream of her, the feeling that washes over me is one of gentleness, calm and reassurance.  It never fails to lift my spirits and affirm my belief in the essential goodness of life.

I have a daughter named Sharisa, and she often reminds me of Charis. They both have that same quality of being just a little closer to the realms of the spirit than the rest of us.  She, too, writes poetry- as well as music.  She suffers from a disease called Friedrich’s Ataxia, which is similar to muscular dystrophy.  She is in a wheelchair now, and is no longer able to paint and to play the piano or do many of the things she loved to do.  Yet she remains one of the lovely, gentle souls who enrich our lives just by the power of their presence.  That is how I think of Charis ― as a singular soul who graced my life for a short time and blessed me with her kindness and goodness and insight.