EDITOR'S NOTE: In October 2021 I began a new venture writing a newspaper column titled "Finding Faith" for the Forum Communications Co. network of newspapers and websites. I was asked to contribute to the company's ongoing conversation about faith, lending a Lutheran and fairly ecumenical approach to the discussion. The column was published in several of the company's papers and websites, including The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead. This column originally appeared as a "Finding Faith" column on July 14, 2023.
By The Rev. Devlyn Brooks
The last time I saw Jonathan, we were gathered to celebrate his daughter Anna’s graduation from law school.
As my wife and I entered the party lounge, the man who was to become our son’s future father-in-law, spotted me from across the room, dropped what he was doing and beelined it to embrace me in a bear hug, an act seemingly out of character, but which brought me great joy. I’ll never forget it!
In a symbolic way, it felt like an emotional turning point in the relationship with the man with whom I one day hoped to share the role of grandfather, given our children’s likely marriage.
But Jonathan was that kind of person. Even in his distinctively introspective way, his presence filled a room, and his laserlike attention on you could make you feel as if you were orbiting the sun. Just ask his wife, Carolyn, or his children Anna and Gabe, or even our son, Garrett, who knew him for more than a decade.
Jonathan was radiant, ever curious and intensely passionate about the people, animals and the things which he loved. The combination made for an unforgettable husband, father, colleague and friend.
Jonathan died this past week, far too young and leaving behind a chasm in the hearts of the many people he impacted in his 58 years.
Selfishly, I’ve mourned the loss of an opportunity to get to know the man who was to become my son’s father-in-law, because I know that Garrett came to greatly admire Jonathan. And, as such, I greatly anticipated getting to know him better thanks to the union of our children.
His beautiful and Spirit-led funeral service reminded me that the way we encounter Jesus is in our relationships with each other. And given the impact that Jonathan had on so many, it was extremely apparent that you could see Christ at work in his life. He lived his faith, and God’s love shined through him even onto the end as he had chosen to be an organ and tissue donor.
That was Jonathan, a faithful servant even in his passing.
I can remember distinctly the moment when Anna shared with me that her dad would read this column and regularly shared it with her. I was secretly thrilled that Jonathan, with his literary and academic background, found this column worth his time. This likely seems vain given that I am in my middle ages and should have long ago outgrown such vanity. … But Jonathan had that effect on people.
I cannot express how heartbroken I am for Carolyn, Gabe, Anna and Garrett, and all of the other people who orbited around Jonathan in his life. However, I am heartened by the reminder that a single person can impact this world for the better, and Jonathon’s legacy will be just that: He made this world better. … Rest in peace, Jonathan.Â
Devlyn Brooks is an ordained pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, and serves Faith Lutheran Church in Wolverton, Minn. He also works for Forum Communications Co. He can be reached at devlynbrooks@gmail.com for comments and story ideas.