Rest in peace, friend

A dear friend of mine who battled brain cancer for more than twenty years died yesterday.

Jon Veitch was one of those people you never forget. A free spirit, a true original, an artist visionary with a sweet spirit. He was passionate in his love for others and his love for God.

Although we graduated from the same high and we knew many of the same people, I didn't really get to know him until 2004 when we started attending the same church. I came to find out he was also a talented artist and so we bonded like that. Crazy artist people.

Jon's drawings inspired me to begin my own Sharpie work.

His Dr. Suess-inspired bike/sculpture. Amazing!

I often wondered how much of who he was was truly him or the brain cancer. Ask anyone who knew him,  he could be out there at times. But that is what made Jon, Jon. That is what people loved about him. When I would see him worshiping God, it always brought tears to my eyes.  He was the dude way down in the front with his arms and his voice raised. Or he was humbly on his knees in thanksgiving--either way, his outright worship inspired me. There was no shame, no embarrassment, no attention-seeking in his offering. It was then I realized he was who he was because that is how God made him,  brain cancer be damned.

After we heard the news that he had passed, my husband and I sat together and reflected on our friend. So many of us have a mask on, a facade. It covers who we really are, it shows only what we are willing to share with other people. It seemed as though Jon's brain cancer stripped that part of his personality away.  What was left was his true self, the raw incarnation of who Jon Veitch was. Unpolished, inappropriate at times, loving, humorous, passionate, brutally honest...real.

I was sad, thinking of his daughter's loss of a father. I was also sad that I won't see his handsome, smiling face again when he made his presence known, as he so often did, in the middle of bible studies, family gatherings, birthday parties, church, the Art Walk or our front door. I understand that he is no longer walking in the Earthly realm but I have a peace knowing he is walking with Jesus now. No more suffering, no more tears.

R.I.P Jon Veitch 1964--2011