Everyone who knew Brian loved Brian.
He could be charming, with a sharp wit, and he was also incredibly kind. I heard he had once been a semi-professional wrestler, which explained his powerful build and cauliflower ears. Brian was also a deeply spiritual man who didn’t take life too seriously. He knew we are only here on Earth for a short visit before moving on to someplace better. Our conversations ranged from crude jokes to exploring deep spiritual ideas.
Brian could be intimidating and very loud, and he had piercing blue eyes. I knew people who were afraid of Brian, but anyone who took the time to get to know him discovered a warm, loving, and kind friend.
He was one of the funniest people I’ve ever met. We laughed—a lot!
Here is one of our best (worst) moments. We were walking together in the courtyard between the Cambridge Vineyard Church and Urban Hope. Brian loved to mess with church people, so as we walked along, he suddenly slapped my butt and shouted, “Hey, don’t touch me there man!” That turned a few heads, and we giggled like schoolkids.
I have done many drawings of Brian (and will do many more). There are only a few here; I’m never satisfied. Try as I might, I cannot convey the complexity of this saint who was so rough on the outside but so bright and beautiful on the inside.
Original artwork, 5 × 7″ greeting cards and archival prints are available. Contact me for details.
50% of net profits are donated to Urban Hope.