Don’t worry mom, everything is okay. I’m not about to die. The men of gap year were challenged by Matt Blair, the head of discipleship at AIM, to set a goal for what our life should look like by writing a eulogy from the perspective of a loved one after our future passing. It’s a way for us to see what we want to chase, and to go after it. I had the easiest time writing it from the perspective of my best friend (you know who you are QT). I hope ya’ll enjoy.
Well, he’s gone. I always thought it was strange that saying… “he’s gone.” Even though my dear friend, my dear brother, may be gone from this world, he is just now entering fully into the Kingdom of Heaven, a Kingdom he became a citizen of long ago. So, as it goes in Ecclesiastes 3, there is a time for mourning, and a time for celebration. We mourn because we are no longer able to share in the physical presence of our good friend, Brendan. But we celebrate because he is finally home, and we will see him soon. So in the spirit of both mourning and celebration, let us reflect on the life the belonged to Brendan DeJonge.
I met Brendan long ago, all the way back in high school. We didn’t necessarily hit it off right away, but had an equal appreciation for things that involved two wheels. What started as watching motocross races together then led to riding bikes together which then led to a profound and powerful friendship, one that had a scope far greater than I would have imagined as a petty sophomore in high school. See, Brendan was different than anyone I had met before. It was always a good time hanging out with him, and we pushed each other to do better in whatever we did, he was the only one I had met who played the same video games I did, and we would laugh uncontrollably at the dumbest jokes. But the thing that was most different about Brendan was that he was a Christian. Now at the time, he was still figuring out what that meant, and he struggled with living up to a calling worthy of the Lord, but nonetheless, he had a hunger and a thirst for righteousness.
Now early on, that hunger was sometimes masked, sometimes covered up by worldly pursuits, but a little ways into our friendship, it was exposed in a simple invitation to go to church with him. I went, and was hooked. I watched sermons online and went every week, bombarding him with questions all along, and he always did his best to answer them, even if they didn’t ring true in his life. From that point on, we went through good times and bad, sometimes following Christ well, sometimes falling short. But all the while, I saw a deep drive within Brendan that longed for something more, that longed for community with the King. Over time, that drive, that hunger for righteousness grew, and it turned Brendan into a warrior of the Lord.
Looking back on Brendan’s life, it is no doubt that that drive and pursuit of the Lord led him to do amazing things. As an engineer, Brendan was constantly looking for needs in the world, and he consistently and diligently solved them. Be it a need for adequate transportation, sustainable energy, or even a way to get rid of waste, Brendan worked tirelessly to enhance people’s lives, all the while pointing to the Engineer of the world. Now Brendan never let profit schemes or corporate greed get in the way of making a difference, but he went against the grain and was willing to use his gifts to bring the Kingdom.
But Brendan’s walk with the Lord went far beyond his career. In any group we were with, Brendan was the one to seek out the outsider and build a friendship. He would love simply, encouraging people and walking with them. He would invite them into his pursuits, and was always willing to have a deep conversation. More than that, he would delve into his close relationships, and was always willing to share what the Lord had for people, even when it was hard. He would always take instruction with humility, and was willing to work hard to change anything offensive in him. He was a servant leader, never thinking of himself as better than anyone. He was a light everywhere he went.
As far as his family went, Brendan was a man who walked in responsibility. He took responsibility for protecting and serving his wife, cherishing her for who she was, a child of the Most High. He walked through all stages of life right by her side, and was faithful to the very end. He also took responsibility for his children, raising them up in the teaching and instruction of the Lord. He walked alongside them, challenging them to do hard things and depend on the Lord. He was loving in the way he treated them, but wasn’t afraid to give godly discipline. He always honored and loved his parents, and regularly talked with them until their passing. He respected them as people of authority in his life, but also shared with them like they were good friends, close companions.
But still, Brendan’s relationship with God went further than his external influence. Rather, that influence was driven by a deep love for the Lord, and a personal longing for intimacy with him. Brendan was constantly fighting for time with the Lord, no matter how busy life got. He went deep in prayer and worship. He would delve deep into the Word, looking for answers, but he also knew that God is bigger than his understanding could ever be. He invited the Lord into every aspect of his life, and constantly decided to surrender his Self for the sake of the Kingdom.
I walked through so many things with Brendan. We saw good times and bad times. We struggled and we stood victorious. We learned and we grew. Through it all, Brendan truly was an successful engineer, amazing friend, loving husband, and a good father. But most of all, Brendan was a Servant of the Lord. I will miss him dearly. See you soon, Brendan.
Thank you to everyone who has partnered with me in fundraising! That said, I still need almost $5,000 by January so that I can continue on to Central America.
Pray about it, and if you feel like you want to contribute and partner in the work the Lord is doing around the world, Please donate!
