Celebrating Joel: A Legacy of Goodness and Faith
The Let Goodness Shine foundation was founded shortly after the sudden passing of Joel Byrne from SUDC at the age of 15.
This foundation is an opportunity for us to celebrate the life of Joel, his goodness and amplify his legacy.
“No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house.”
— Matthew 5:15 (NLT)
We believe that Joel’s life provides a light to others. Through Let Goodness Shine, we will strive to relentlessly serve the less fortunate and advocate for the unheard and unseen through existing, “grassroot” nonprofits.
We consider Joel to be the foundation’s founder — his example, principals, and priorities are our blueprint. His sense of purpose stemmed from his strong faith and was his driver for compassion for the less fortunate. Joel didn’t lose his life, he lived his life — as an athlete, a defender, a man of faith — he lived it with purpose and did good.
Hard Working Athlete with Humility
He was Gifted …
Whether it was basketball, football, soccer or whatever, Joel naturally excelled. He was born with the athleticism and passion for it.
His freshman year of football, he lead the team in tackles. As the kicker, it was the norm for him to be the first down the field to make the tackle. Plus he often recovered his own onside kicks. In both soccer and basketball, his field vision gave him innate passing abilities. He had the ability to fight through defender after defender while maintaining possession. In the rare occurrence he was knocked off the ball, he came back harder and stronger to win it back. He just kept fighting and fighting.
“As a football player, Joel was wiser and more talented than his years of experience would lead you to believe. His athleticism was second to none,”
— Joel’s Football Coach
He worked Hard…
Joel was not about to rest on talent alone. He coupled them a work ethic second to none — turning him from a gifted athlete to a standout anytime he stepped on a field.
“Nobody worked harder than Joel. Nobody had more natural desire. He was simply relentless. He was a legend.“
“While the other boys were getting a drink or goofing around between drills, Joel would always ask if he could help set up cones for the next drill.”
The things he’d do in the name of improvement are unending. He’d be out doing ladder drills before school. In an effort to get stronger, he put weights in his backpack. To improve on football tackling, he wanted to practice tackling a tree (no lie). More these later…
He was Humble…
For Joel to be the best he could required humility — he was more than willing to hear about his deficiencies if it gave him a chance to improve. One of Joel’s hallmarks was asking questions. Specifically the “what can I do better?” question. He wasn’t afraid challenging his limits even if it meant failing in front of others.
“Joel had a coolness to him in that he had a ton of friends, was athletic, but didn’t seem to let himself be arrogant about it.”
— Joel’s Basketball Coach
“…nobody wanted to improve like Joel. After every practice, Joel would ask me for 1 or 2 things that he could do better. It never failed…. after every practice”
— Joel’s Soccer Coach
Joel’s Little Acts of Goodness
As parents, we were happy for him that he could excel in sports. And of course, we believed he was a good kid. Parental bias is perfectly OK.
What really surprised us in the weeks and months following Joel’s death, were the countless, unsolicited stories shared about Joel’s of random acts of service, kindness and selflessness. They all carried a sense of disbelief that someone so talented, kind, thoughtful, and compassionate could have been taken from us so young. Perhaps the mystery of it all is also the answer.
Being perfected in a short time, he fulfilled long years; for his soul was pleasing to the Lord, therefore he took him quickly from the midst of wickedness. Yet the peoples saw and did not understand, nor take such a thing to heart, that God’s grace and mercy are with his elect, and he watches over his holy ones.
—Wisdom 4:13
For a young teenager, he had a keen sense of selflessness. When it came to scoring goals or hitting shots, his priority was to get the points for the team. If someone else was in a better position to achieve that, he was going to pass.
“[Joel] took more pride in his teammate’s accomplishments than his own. He took more joy in passing to his teammates, and trying to set them up for success than he would in scoring himself.“
— Joel’s Coach
Joel strove for excellence — it was one of his pillars. If he could do something good, something to improve, even if it was small, it was worth the effort. It was that simple. The fact that picking up one piece of litter is but a drop in the proverbial ocean of litter didn’t factor into his decision. Whether Joel knew it or not, he was countering the societal norm of “go big or go home” — the idea that the only way for us to “make a difference” is to do something big. A mentality that most of us, including me, believed to be true.
Instead of walking over litter, Joel would simply bend down to pick it up. Often it would end up in Julia’s car — now a running joke in the family. One of Joel’s teachers shared a story how a piece of litter lay untouched in the hallway as dozens of students passed over it. Eventually someone picked it up — it was Joel. Again probably ending up in Julia’s car.
In another example, an elderly member of the community was trying to weed her garden in the heat. Joel took notice and invested a few minutes to help — only then to refuse her offer to pay him. Did this rid her garden of weeds forever or quench her thirst? No. Did it prevent her from having a heart attack? Unlikely, but we’ll never know this side of Heaven. And it’s very likely that the ripple from this little act is still making a difference. The fact that I’m sharing it is evidence.
The stories of these little acts of service went on on and on. I don’t think he was trying to solve the world’s litter problem. I think he just felt like “Litter belongs in the trash and it is just as easy for me to pick it up than walk over it.” His actions emphasized that any act of goodness, no matter how small or insignificant, matter. It was Joel living the “The Tale of a Starfish”.
As a Defender
Joel was one of the best defenders in basketball I have ever seen. When it was time to full-court press, he unleashed what I can only describe as superman-like instincts and movement.
I think defense was more philosophical for Joel. Kind of like a duty to use what he was given for others. Whatever the reason, he demonstrated himself as a relentless defender time and time again.
“Joel was a leader and was always looked out for the underdog.“
“He was the most consistently kind player that I’ve ever seen. Bar none. … he stood up for kids that were getting teased, or bullied, or weren’t the best on their team. Joel always stood up and did what was RIGHT…not what was convenient or popular.”
“[Joel] was incredibly aware of those around him – whether it was getting passes to teammates, or reaching out to those that seemed like they were having a tough day.“
“[Joel] wanted to get his teammates involved in the game and if they missed their shots he could get the rebound. I’ve coached many kids who felt entitled to use the rest of the team as a support system to make them better. Joel was the consummate teammate and team player.”
As a Man of Faith
The person Joel became was a combination of so many influences around him: family, friends, and community. But the underlying source of what made Joel, Joel, came from in his faith in Jesus Christ. He didn’t preach it or throw it in peoples face. He just tried to live it as best he could. Yet he didn’t hide it.
One day, Joel was supposed to meet friends after school. At the last minute they had to back out. Rather than call me to pick him up after the busted plans, he walked to church for adoration. What 13 or 14 year old makes these kinds of decisions? I know beyond a reasonable doubt I didn’t.
Yet in another story, Joel was hanging with some buddies and they were getting set to go somewhere else. Not sure where, but Joel opted to pass. His reason: he had a goal to finish the Bible before he was confirmed and wanted to get to it. He was in 8th grade. As per usual, I didn’t learn this from Joel.
In a perfectly worded letter to us, Joel’s friend and teammate Roberto, painted an unforgettable picture of Joel’s commitment to God. Roberto described it as “the most beautiful moment I had ever shared with Joel”. Joel was sitting alone in the school hallway before a football game — reading the Bible. Roberto described how he sat in silence next to Joel, amazed how nonchalant Joel was about his boldness…
Once he had finally finished, we talked. I expressed to him how cool it was and he would brush it off as if it was nothing. He would hold no pride nor shame. Just a pure goal to become closer to Him.
— Roberto, Joel’s Friend and Teammate
I believe that Joel looked at the life of Jesus from the Gospels and asked himself, “Why wouldn’t I want to strive to live like Jesus?”. Not because he wanted to earn his way into Heaven — but because living a life reflective of Jesus was the only way to live.
The Catholic Church’s “Universal call to Holiness” is a teaching that encourages all — clergy and lay people included — to live a holy life.
The Lord asks everything of us, and in return he offers us true life, the happiness for which we were created. He wants us to be saints and not to settle for a bland and mediocre existence”
— Pope Francis
“To all the beloved of God in Rome, called to be saints”
— St. Paul to the Romans 1:7
It was preached about often. And when it was, I could see it in Joel’s eyes. It was evident to me then he was taken in by the mission. Its even more evident to me now because he lived it. And when I look back at Joel’s life, and mine, there’s no doubt that God planted the seeds — in some way preparing us for what’s to come.
Joel’s Purpose
I think there is something father’s enjoy about forcing their kids to listen or watch something educational. The gasps, groaning, and complaining is drama at it’s best. I don’t know exactly when, but at one point we watched Rick Warren’s TED talk on purpose. In there Pastor Warren talks about stewardship and the “stewardship of affluence” and the “stewardship of influence.” If God puts something in our hands, or gives us certain talents, we have the ability to influence.
…the purpose of influence is to speak up for those who have no influence. The purpose of influence is not to build your ego. Or your net worth … And so the purpose of influence is to speak up for those who have no influence. – Rick Warren TED Talk
It’s taken me a while to understand “purpose” as it relates to Joel’s death. I’ve prayed, contemplated, and ruminated over it for three years now. Something to explain why we lost Joel and what is supposed to be gained. A paradox I refused to accept for a while. I guess I was expecting the heavens to open up with an answer written in the sky. Further, I was expecting that somehow the hurt and pain of losing Joel could be eased with some God-like justification that I could understand.
There is the loss of losing a child. Then there is the pain of losing a child that was special to us in their own way. We knew Joel wasn’t perfect, but he was perfect for us and his sisters. It was such joy to be with him or watch him. He was just getting started and on such an amazing trajectory. What would he become? In such a torrent of loss, hope stops in its tracks, and dreams of what he would become just vanished.
Joel wouldn’t have had the chance to do the things he dreamed for himself. Run out of the tunnel on Friday nights or compete at the state level for track with his sister. He wouldn’t graduate, go to college, build a career and have a family.
Isn’t freshman year in high-school supposed to be a launching point for a “successful” life? And along the way aren’t we supposed to find joy and excitement? Aren’t all these different experiences supposed to shape us into someone that fits into a mold of what we call “success”? That TED Talk was supposed to help the kids aim their sights for their later years. Much later years. It seems pretty straightforward to assume that longevity is part and parcel with living a life of purpose. But is this God’s perspective?
Today, I’m more confident than ever in saying that Joel lived a life of purpose. He’s influenced others in a better way. Maybe some have stronger faith. Or maybe some are more considerate of others. Perhaps some are more willing to help those in need or pick up litter.
It does bring some comfort to us hearing and seeing how Joel’s impact has changed lives for the better. But sometimes, most of the times, the impact Joel had is hidden from our sights — we don’t have the power to see everything. Especially the generational impact. We just have the faith it is there.
It is our hope that through the mission of Let Goodness Shine, we can amplify the ripples Joel made. And perhaps make a few of our own as a result.