EULOGY
I was asked to write my own eulogy for a leadership confrence I attended. This was an exercise in self-reflection, and here’s what I came up with…as if a friend were reading it on my behalf.
As many of you know, I knew Drew for most of his life. While there is much debate on whether that was his true name, our purpose here today is to celebrate his life and his legacy.
If Drew had had the opportunity to write his own Eulogy, I am confident that he would have summed up his life with only three words. "Veni, Vidi, Vici", a Latin quote by Julius Ceasar that translates to "I came, I saw, I conquered".
Drew loved quotes, and they often guided his life and provided him a sense of purpose and direction. During his freshman year in high school, Drew's High School football coach was quoted in the local newspaper when asked how his team would approach the upcoming season. The coach said, "You have to take what you have, with who you are, make something of it, and never be satisfied". Drew kept that quote with him his entire life. He believed that the true measure of success comes from when you compare where you are now, with where you came from, and more importantly, with what your potential is. He knew that the quality of your thinking will determine the quality of your life. Drew chose to be the architect of his future, and lived his life by design, not by default.
Drew's life was full of situations where he failed. Some of his dreams never materialized, he had failed relationships and financial goals. He succeeded in life because he never gave up. He autographed every effort with excellence regardless of the final outcome and he never settled for mediocrity.
Looking back, I think Drew would agree that the people in his life were most important to him. Marcus Aurelius said ""Accept the things to which fate binds you, and love the people with whom fate brings you together, but do so with all your heart". Drew was a son, brother, uncle, dedicated coworker to many, and the world's greatest father to many canine companions.
He loved the people in his life, but he would be the first to say that he wished he told them that more often. Drew broke a lot of hearts also, but even in heartbreak, friendships were maintained...which was one of his admirable qualities. A Spanish proverb says "Cuando amor no es locura, no es amor" (When love is not madness, it is not love). He felt that there was no better situation to throw caution to the wind, then when it came to matters of the heart.
Drew loved his job despite the negative aspects of what he faced while working in public service. He decided early in his career that there was only one thing he felt was worth giving his own life for. That would be if he could save one of his coworkers from harm. His hope was that his partners always knew they could count on him to be there during the worst of times when necessary.
Drew's family saw him less often than he would have preferred. His career took him away from many of the moments he would have liked to enjoy with them. One of the most significant achievements in Drew's life came when he found a way to balance the demands of his career with ways to spend more time with the family that cared for him. It was a constant struggle, and was the battle he felt was most precious to him. He always hoped to leave a legacy of positive examples, work ethic, and lessons learned to love in the moment, and to "be here now".
As we celebrate Drew's life today, I feel it would be fitting to reflect on the words that he took the time to handwrite in his notebook at a very early age. The author is unknown, but they are words that Drew read thousands of times during his life. He would enjoy sharing them on this day.
I wont look back, let up, slow down or back away. My past is forgiven, my present is focused, my future secured. I'm finished and done with low living, side walking, small planning, faithless dreams, tainted vision, mundane talk, cheap excuses and dwarfed goals. I no longer need pre-eminence, position, promotion, promises or popularity. I don't have to be right, I don't have to be recognized. I don't have to be praised, regarded or rewarded. I live by faith, learn by submitting, labor by love, lead by example, lift by prayer. My dream is developed, my decision definite, my desire determined, my discipline dedicated, my devotion distinct. My face is set, my pace is fast, my road is narrow. My way is tough, my companions strong. My counselors reliable, my purpose pure and my mission clear. I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back, deluded, delayed or denied. Ill not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of the adversary, negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity or meander in the maze of mediocrity. I wont give up, shut up, let up until Ive stayed up, stored up, prayed up, paid up and stood up for the price and cause of freedom. I must fight when others faint, go when others wont, give till I drop, teach till all know, and work till the task is finished. And when I lie exhausted on the battlefield of life I will be... VICTORIOUS!
Drew's family knew that his final resting place would be to have his ashes spread across the mountain range where he called his "happiest place on earth". He will forever overlook that magical place where his dogs were also laid to rest. Thank you for being here today for Drew. Please take good care of yourselves and each other. Strive for excellence in all that you do, and never settle for mediocrity. May your future be full of great accomplishments, and great people to share them with!