Moreau Integration Three The Life of Luke: Loving, Liberating, & Legendary February 25, 2022 We are gathered here today to reflect, celebrate, and recall the life of , who peacefully passed away mere weeks ago. He had lived a life he was proud of, bringing joy to those around him, as was his goal from the beginning. Staying involved with his passions both in and out of work, he maintained a close connection with God, constructed creations which inspired others, and fostered a new generation of builders to lead the world. To properly and appropriately remember Luke and his life, it is important to reflect on each major stage with remembrance and respect. From a young age, even in his childhood years, Luke was fascinated with the way things worked and their interactions with the world. He routinely built Lego sets, took interest in mechanical structures, and even disassblmed household objects to see their inner workings. Growing up, Luke had a passion for building physical creations, and his desire to see how the world worked was a cornerstone of his personality, even from such a young age. Looking at Luke and seeing the curiosity in his heart, it was clear that the following quote was being realized: “‘What are the things you can’t leave alone?’ Questions, concerns, issues that you return to over and over again because they fascinate you, they excite you, they really intrigue you, they lure you on, they get you to ask more and more questions. What are your obsessions?” (“Three Key Questions” by Fr. Michael Himes - Moreau FYE Week 3). From a young age, Luke was on route to discovering his passions and obsessions, as Fr. Himes described in his quote, and this seeking of joy and interest brought Luke a great deal of happiness throughout his childhood. Moving into his teenage and college years, Luke became further enthralled with the physical and mechanical properties of the world, particularly in the field of making creations on https://canvas.nd.edu/courses/40380/files/467832/download?download_frd=1 his own. Starting with building miniature Lego dioramas of his own design, Luke expanded upon his love for building in the coming years leading up to college. In his favorite creation, a life-size, fully operational Lego Pinball Machine, the first of its kind in the world, Luke brought together not only a complex Lego creation, but also allowed for the machine to be interacted with by the public. This bridging of the medium of the Lego world from static to dynamic became a cornerstone of his personality and achievements, which would go on to guide the rest of his life. While in school, trying to balance work, social life, sports, faith, and personal hobbies, a quote which fit this timeframe was, “It’s easy to feel as if we’re standing two inches away from a huge canvas that’s noisy and crowded and changing with every microsecond. It’s only by stepping farther back and standing still that we can begin to see what that canvas (which is our life) really means, and to take in the larger picture” (“Why we need to slow down in our lives” by Pico Iyer - Moreau FYE Week 1). Luke needed to ensure all areas of his life were balanced, and take time to reflect upon his successes and failures to keep the bigger picture in mind. As he created a balanced and healthy lifestyle, he began looking into job opportunities as his college career neared an end. Led by the guidance of his parents, his approach to this piece of his life can be described in the quote, “But you can only go so far with online research. Eventually, you’ll need to get a first hand perspective and talk with people in career fields of greatest interest to you. You will learn so much by talking with someone in a career you are considering - the good and the bad” (“Navigating Your Career Journey” by Meruelo Family Center for Career Development - Moreau FYE Week 4). As he started to meet with potential employers for a career in mechanical engineering, Luke realized that his deeper purpose in life was to bring others joy in any way possible, and by harnessing his talents, such as building, to form better lives for those around him. In talking with professionals and potential employers, Luke developed a better framework for his life and the direction he wanted to go as he entered the workforce and his adult life. After college, as his adult life and professional career were underway, Luke took a deeper dive into the world of creation and building unique products which could enhance the https://ideas.ted.com/why-we-need-a-secular-sabbath/ https://undergradcareers.nd.edu/navigating-your-career-journey---moreau/ world around him. Holding strong to his personal goals and morals, Luke worked to construct a career centered around building and teaching others about roller coasters in the broader field of STEM, which would help spark the passion of students. Used as one of his main inspirations, Luke often remembered the quote, “He followed his passion for research to Cornell, where his graduate studies focused on the development of aluminum nitride (AIN)-based power amplifiers, which have yielded a breakthrough in the ability to produce high-power millimeter-wave frequency signals” (“Domer Dozen” by The University of Notre Dame - Moreau FYE Week 2). Selecting this quote from Dr. Austin Hickman, due to his focus on turning a passion for technology and building into a career, Luke set his sights on turning his passion for creation into a successful organization. He utilized the learnings from his years of education and work experience to build a community of interested builders, which brought him–and those around him–heightened amounts of joy and satisfaction. During this time, Luke also made sure to stay connected with his faith, as it had been a critical part of his life leading up to his career. Even from a young age, Luke was connected with the Catholic Church and wanted to stay involved by being a lector and volunteering his time with various organizations, and this grew to be an even larger passion outside of his direct field of work. A quote from a discussion with his Grandfather from many years ago outlines, “As he described the passion with which I speak to the congregation or feel during a mass, I came to realize that my connection to the church is in fact a cornerstone of my personality, which should be further explored in the future. Helping others and bringing a genuine sense of joy to those around me is a gift I often forget I possess, and would like to take more pride in and become even more involved” (“Discernment Conversation Activity” by - Moreau FYE Week 5). Expanding upon this sense of joy he brought to others within the church, Luke remained connected to his faith, relationship with God, and bond with his community through his regular participation at masses and volunteer events. Keeping him grounded and grateful, https://domerdozen.nd.edu https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ioRMBWrV51JGzFN8IO3OirnXVvpEblsqeVK7WujTYJ0/edit?usp=sharing maintaining a connection to his parish and local area allowed for Luke to feel a heightened sense of joy from meaningful communal involvement. Throughout a successful career of creation, teaching others, and staying involved with his faith, Luke started to become thoughtful about how his life was unfolding. He had a wonderful career, in which he took his passion for creation and used it to foster a similar passion among the younger generation, and was maintaining a high level of engagement with his local Catholic Community. In these times, despite his many achievements, Luke started to become visibly and emotionally distressed, as he started to focus on the smaller things in his life which were not perfect. As one quote explains, “In truth, introspection can cloud our self-perceptions and unleash a host of unintended consequences. Sometimes it may surface unproductive and upsetting emotions that can swamp us and impede positive action. Introspection might also lull us into a false sense of certainty that we’ve identified the real issue” (“The right way to be introspective (yes, there’s a wrong way)” by Tasha Eurich - Moreau FYE Week 6). Even among his triumphs and happiness, Luke still occasionally fell into bouts of negative introspection which clouded his judgment and took his focus away from the positive aspects of his life. However, refusing to give up or be defeated, Luke bounced back from these moments and came back stronger than before, determined to lead a life of meaning and purpose through his passions. Luke harnessed this negative energy into a feeling of pride in his work, and aimed to live each day with purpose and joy. Years went on with Luke being happy and engaged with others, just as he had been doing for his entire life. Continuing to craft his legacy as a builder with a focus on interactivity and inspiration, Luke aimed to bring joy to others through his actions. Towards the end of his life, Luke grew ill and could no longer pursue this dream. As he entered medical care for the closing of his life, he still remained in high spirits and refused to give up. He still made treks to local career fairs and church events to voice his support, even when he himself was weaker than before. In these times, it was clear Luke had not given up hope, as is elaborated upon in https://ideas.ted.com/the-right-way-to-be-introspective-yes-theres-a-wrong-way/ https://ideas.ted.com/the-right-way-to-be-introspective-yes-theres-a-wrong-way/ the quote, “Hope is the virtue of a heart that doesn't lock itself into darkness, that doesn't dwell on the past, does not simply get by in the present, but is able to see a tomorrow. Hope is the door that opens onto the future” (“Why the only future worth building includes everyone” by His Holiness Pope Francis - Moreau FYE Week 7). Luke knew that his time on earth was coming to an end, but he also knew that his legacy and actions could continue to inspire others for years to come. Taking peace and solace in this fact, Luke reflected on his lifelong portfolio of work and achievements, especially in regards to making the world a better place, and was satisfied with his life story. Even as his life drew to a close, Luke maintained an outlook of hope and optimism for the future. His work in areas such as building and faith involvement laid the groundwork for future generations, as the people to whom he inspired and brought joy were prepared to expand upon his life’s work. Luke fulfilled his ultimate goal of bringing others joy through his own passions and experiences, and he was at peace amidst his passing. As he leaves this world, Luke will be remembered as someone who always put others first, and by means of building upon his passions, created a sense of joy and inspiration among those around him. As the people around him, and even he himself, could attest, Luke lived a meaningful life, one of which will be remembered for many generations to come. https://www.ted.com/talks/his_holiness_pope_francis_why_the_only_future_worth_building_includes_everyone/transcript