Remembering Dustin Chamberlain
By Hob Howell

I’ll never forget the very first time I met Dustin Chamberlain.

It was a hot August day in Waco, Texas. I was with my family as we were moving stuff into my dorm room the week before I was set to begin my freshman year at Baylor University. Move-in Day was frenzied and hectic as thousands of new students like me crowded the halls of the dorms that would become our home for the next year. While I was making one of my rounds from the car to the dorm room to unload more of my stuff, I ran into a somewhat tall, lanky, red-headed guy who smiled broadly and introduced himself to me.

His name was Dustin Chamberlain.

Dustin’s room was right down the hall from mine and it wasn’t long before we became good friends. Football games, late night talks, entertaining dinners…the memories go on and on. Simply put, we had a blast. I also quickly found that Dustin had an unbelievable drive to be the very best he could be in anything he did, and I mean in anything he did. Whether it be school, building relationships, or serving God, Dustin had this insatiable desire to never give less than his all. This drive that Dustin had made me admire him so much as a friend and as a person. In fact, there were multiple times throughout our friendship when I would ask him, “How do you always have this drive to be so great?” Every time Dustin answered back with the same old answer that always amazed me: “Because I love God with all my heart and I don’t want to give him anything less than my best.”

Dustin was a son of God.

Anyone who knew him would agree with me. Dustin was the epitome of a godly man. You could feel God’s love through everything that Dustin did. Whether it was the multiple times I sat down with him to talk over dinner, or the countless late nights we spent playing video games in my room, God’s light shined through him regardless. And it continually amazed me.

In addition to hanging out often, Dustin and I would go to church together on Sunday’s with a group of our friends throughout freshman year. There were several times that I found myself wanting to slack off and skip a Sunday service, but Dustin told me that he wouldn’t have any of that. He made sure that I was up and ready to go, no matter what. Church, he said, was something we could not miss. I only missed a couple of Sunday services my freshman year…Dustin missed none. That should tell you the kind of man he was.

Our freshman year came and went in a blur. During the year, I made plans with Dustin to come up and see him over the summer in Arkansas, but the visit fell through. Instead, we had to wait until school started back up in the fall to see each other again.

I only got to see Dustin a few more times after that. Twelve times to be exact.

We remained good friends with a bond that could not be broken. But we were no longer just a couple doors away from each other. Schoolwork, distance, and other stuff kept us from seeing each other much. I know that it disturbed both of us that we could not see each other as often as we used to (we often talked about this in text messages) but we both continued on with our lives under the assumption that there would be time to revive our friendship later on…

Why didn’t I make a better effort to see him more often?

Why did I take one of my best friendships for granted?

If I could go back in time…oh God, if I could just go back in time.

I will never get to see Dustin again, and it breaks my heart. There is a hole inside of me that I fear will never be filled. I don’t think that I have cried this much in years. I cannot believe that I took our friendship for granted. Life is fragile and it can change in an instant. I knew this before today, but Dustin’s life has really driven the point home with me.

We may never understand why Dustin was taken from us. But I do believe that God has a reason for it. And through my tears I am happy because I know that Dustin is in heaven, resting in peace.

Mr. and Mrs. Chamberlain, if you are reading this I want you to know that your son was as good of a friend that I could have ever asked for. He loved me dearly and was always there for me, even during some of my toughest days. Your son was a true inspiration to me. And not only was he your son, but he was a true son of God.

Dustin, I want you to know that I love you so much man. I already miss you like crazy, but I know there will be a day when we get to see each other again. You never failed to bring a smile to my face when I saw you. You were such an amazing friend and person, and I can only hope to be half of the man you were.

I’ll never forget you buddy…..I’ll see you soon.