Some of these works have been published before, in the "Calliope," the annual poetry publication of the North Cross School, which he attended from the 2nd grade in 1987 until he graduated in May of 1997.  Matt's work, combining poetry, storytelling, and physical illusion, was also published in some newsletters related to magic, an art he loved and had developed to a remarkable level.

 Those who knew him will, in these pages, find confirming glimpses of the person they knew and loved, as well as some surprising facets and dimensions they may not have seen in an incredibly gifted and complex young man.  Matt Brown was, in the truest sense of the word, an enigma.

 For those who did not have the privilege of knowing Matt while he was with us, his eloquent words will give you more than a glimpse of a rare talent... they will give you a hard look at the wealth of sensitivity and insight that were walking around in a boy's body.

 Matthew Jordan Brown was born on September 25, 1979 to Michael Jordan Brown and Janet McCane Brown.  Dad hailed from Big Island, in Bedford County, Virginia, and Mom was from equally humble beginnings in West Virginia.  Matt was not the product of wealth or connections; rather, he was the product of a combination of God-given talents, an ever-inquisitive mind, parents who encouraged his every interest, a deep and abiding faith in God, and a wealth of exposure to numerous disciplines brought on by friends, family, teachers and colleagues.

 Matt took -- and gave -- great joy in life.  In music.  In magic.  In literature.  In history.  And so much more.  He read the Bible, Shakespeare and Tolkien and Malory and Hemingway while listening to Jimmy Buffett's tear-jerkers and/or practicing his sleight-of-hand with a deck of cards or a few coins.  He could do it all at once, and do it well.  He played the guitar.  He played with words and masterfully wove them into pieces as incredibly short as they are brutally incisive.

 One would expect such a talent to be a loner.  Stand-offish.  Arrogant.  Self-centered.  Such is often our experience.  Yet Matt, here again, perplexed us with his sheer delight in pleasing others, whether it be with a card trick, an act of service, a heartfelt letter, a patient ear lent freely, or sharing insight that defies description.  Matt was the recipient of countless visits and phone calls from the distraught, the lonely, the widowed, the depressed, even the suicidal... and always made the time to listen, had the will to refrain from judging, and found the courage and wisdom to help those who sought him out.  Matt did this in such a subtle and unassuming way that he made friends for life by reaching out and being there for others.

 Matt Brown breathed everything deeply:  people, places, feelings, the arts.  As you will see in his works, he recognized the darker side of life, and its heartache and disappointments, but always managed to see the good in a person, a mountain, a lonely tree, in the smallest of things.  He recognized that it was the basic, simple things in life that mattered most:  family, home, friends, faith; and he recognized life's brevity, which is, perhaps, why he made the most of his 17 years here; he lived more in those years than most of us do in a lifetime.

 There can be little question that, had he lived longer, Matt Brown would have become a household word... whether through his writing, his magic, his storytelling, his abilities to touch people... but it probably would have been through a combination of all of his talents.  Matt Brown was a walking example of a Renaissance Man, and also of the Golden Rule.

 But Matt did not live in this world beyond July 25, 1997, when a single-car accident took him away from us.  God's time for Matt had come, and we must rest in that.

 Matt's parents, while recognizing, encouraging and appreciating his talents and abilities, did not fully realize the scope of people that Matt had touched, and the depth to which he touched them, until after he was gone.  Most likely, not even Matt himself realized it.  He did not set out to be a Mother Teresa, or a David Copperfield, or an Ernest Hemingway.  Matt Brown merely took life one day at a time, lived each to its fullest and, with God's blessing and help, did what he could for those in his wide circle that day.  He did that every day for 17 years.  Although the void is deep for those who are for now left behind, those who knew him do not question that God must have had even more important things for Matt to do.

 I did not know Matt long, but I knew him well.  Not from extensive time spent with him, because I had few and brief opportunities.  But he was a fellow creative spirit and we understood each other without having to say much.  We discussed "stream-of-consciousness" inspiration and other things that cause those with less understanding to look at us in bewilderment or with suspicion.  This, indeed, is a rare privilege.  (I will say what many others have now said:  "Had I known, I would have spent more time with him."  Too little, too late.  A regret I will always hold.)  But Matt will forever remain in my mind at his best:  performing an impromptu magic show at a Christmas party in 1996.  With few words and great dexterity, he captivated a crowd of 40 or more, of all ages, and held us spellbound for a good hour or so.  Our delight was all he needed... and he beamed.  I will remember him that way.

 As it has been said:  "An unexamined life is not worth mentioning."  Matt's life is worth examining, worth mentioning, and worth emulating.  These paragraphs are written not merely from my own experience but, rather, are a culmination of spending time with my friends his grieving parents, witnessing the overwhelming outpouring of love and emotion, in the form of cards, letters, and other support from those Matt affected, and from talking to many others who knew Matt much better than I did.  I have had the unique privilege, albeit painful, of being in a position to comfort, observe, collect, and otherwise be in the middle of the aftermath of a tragic and tremendous loss.  Although I am saddened, and working on this volume has been more bitter than sweet, I am the better for it.

 Testament to Matt's legacy is the formation of the Matthew Jordan Brown Center for the Performing Arts Foundation... and the legion of people who have rallied behind it.  Proceeds from the sale of this volume will go to build a center for the performing arts in Bedford County, Virginia that Matt could only have dreamed of.  The task now at hand is to raise the necessary funds to build it to benefit the community and generations of kindred spirits to come.

 In reading Matt's work, you will likely laugh, cry, have your breath taken away, sometimes be astounded... even shocked.  You will marvel at his perception... and that he allowed you to see it at all.  Some may think that Matt foresaw his own demise; at least you will be convinced that he thought much about his own mortality.  You will read intimate letters, poems crafted between the ages of 12 and 17, essays, stories, magic tricks (explained... just see if you can do them yourself!), and more.  You may not always agree with, or even like everything you read, but there is no denying that what you hold in your hands is, at the very least, compelling.  You will witness his willingness to make himself vulnerable -- subject to criticism, ridicule, or rejection -- and you will cheer his confidence in the talents that God gave him.  You will have, in effect, a rare glimpse into the innermost feelings and the very soul of the person named Matthew Jordan Brown... a soul that walked amongst us for 17 short years, and a soul that is with his Creator now where, I am certain, he is preparing one incredible magic show for us when we join him there.
 

Donald A. Garlock, Jr.
Forest, Virginia
August 1997

A Personal Note from Mike and Janet Brown

Mere words cannot begin to express our heartfelt gratitude for the love and support you have shown us since our loss of Matthew  As any parent can imagine, and as any parent who has lost a child can attest, our only son was the center of our world, and we have a deep void.

 We are comforted, however, with the knowledge of two things:

 First, that Matt, through his faith in Jesus Christ, is in a much better place, merely waiting for us to join him and his Creator, and

 Secondly, that, while we remain here, Matt's legacy has meant so much to so many that we will be able to better our community and our lives with The Matthew Jordan Brown Center for the Performing Arts, a place which only you can make possible, but a concept and, ultimately, a reality which Matthew would have loved and upon which we know he is smiling down at this very moment... from ear to ear.

 We spent countless painful hours poring over Matt's handwritten notes, letters, poems, and printing his other material off the computer.  In the short weeks since we lost him, this material has been very difficult for us to read through, and there is so much more than we ever knew existed.  We trust that you will find the inspiration and encouragement in Matt's writings that so many others have found.  We knew he was good, but often chalked it off to parental pride; but with the encouragement of others we decided to make his works available to you.  May you enjoy Matt's works as much as we enjoyed him, and as much as he enjoyed life.
 

Mike and Janet Brown
Montvale, Virginia
August 1997

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