An Amazing Week of Tributes to Joel
Last week was an intense week with several tributes to Joel converging in the same week. Tears of grief drowned out by tears of gratitude.
Such tributes to Joel help in our grief; they give us reassurances that Joel’s light is shining and are a privilege and blessing. And no matter what emotions they dust up, I’d rather witness and participate in them than not.
More so now, the sadness that comes along with the end of the school year are triggered mainly by the reminders that the Class of 2026 is moving on. His friends and teammates are some of the most direct connections we have with Joel outside of our family. They knew him in ways we didn’t. Seeing them and the “28 Do Good and Never Quit” car magnets give me some comfort that Joel’s presence is still felt. It feels like we are losing more remnants of Joel. We won’t see everyone like we do today — in the stands, around town, on the field or wherever. I get fearful that as time goes by, people spread out, and magnets fade, so too will Joel’s memory and impact.
Although fear finds its way into my thinking, it cannot overcome what I know to be true — Joel’s true impact, or anyone’s for that matter, can’t be measured only by what is observed. And it can’t be measured this side of heaven. I believe that only God has this insight and that it is not my business to worry about. Easier said than done.
“So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal”
2 Corinthians 4:18 (NIV)
Joel’s glass recycling business and his habit of picking up trash, and what transpired this spring, has helped reinforce this notion for me. Nobody, certainly not I, could have expected that such “below the radar” actions would rise to the threshold of making a difference. Yet this April, the members of the Robinson Boys Soccer program demonstrated this to be the case with their “Buy a bag, clean the earth” initiative. In the month of April, the team picked up trash at various locations in Joel’s honor. Joel cast a stone that created a ripple which was amplified into a swell through others. Perhaps someday that swell will turn into a wave.
The broader point is this… I don’t think anyone can predict the long-term impact of act of goodness taken today. And part of me feels that this is becoming part of Joel’s light — just do good. Do the best you can with what you have and let God worry about the impact.
Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act.
Proverbs 3:27
On behalf of our family, thank you to everyone who took the time and energy to pay tribute to Joel last week.. Thank you to those who pay tribute to Joel in other ways or in the silence of their own hearts. And thank you for your continued prayers and support and for doing your own good.
Love,
Don, Monica, Julia, and Jane
Soccer Senior Night
The soccer team sported arm bands in honor of Joel and presented us with a framed #21 jersey. This on the heals of the team’s “Buy a bag, clean the earth” program in honor of Joel.
McNamara Family of Restaurants 1st Annual Golf with proceeds going to the Joel Byrne Let Goodness Shine Foundation and Medina14 Foundation
The Joel Byrne Memorial Glass Recovery Month concluded with over 2500 pounds of glass collected by Ed Ehlers and his Resource Recovery Project. It was a ton of fun (sorry couldn’t resist)
Roberto’s tribute to Joel in the Playbill for Robinson Secondary School Theatre spring play “Legally Blond”
Marla’s Tribute – Saturday night received a text out of the blue from a friend and former coworker “36 summer school care packages that will be given to homeless elementary students #WhatWouldJoelDo”
