I’d like to thank those of you who watched the streaming of Kara’s memorial service. We will post the video of the service as soon as it’s available to us. It was a beautiful, meaningful time of worship, celebrating, and grieving with others who loved Kara, although I admit that I remember very little of it now. I think I was overwhelmed by emotion. The one part I do remember is the poetry reading by Kara’s good friend and editor at David C. Cook, John Blase. It was spectacular and breathtaking. I asked John for permission to share it with our friends today. Enjoy.

Something Else

I sent you the link to the rare Mary Oliver

Interview in hopes her wild voice and

Silky words would inspire you to write.

I knew she’d wooed your mind when

You began texting me quote after quote

You’d copied down, this one your favorite -

I SAW WHAT LOVE MIGHT HAVE DONE

IF WE HAD LOVED IN TIME.

But you never sent the one I hoped

You’d hear and pause to consider -

WHEN THE MORTAL DIES

IT WILL BECOME SOMETHING ELSE -

For that is the line the poet spoke that

Made me think of you.

 

Now that you’re gone my grownup thoughts wrestle with

Exactly what that something else is that you’ve become.

While off to the side the faith I held as a child

Holds that You’re now a part of everything from

The warmth of the winter sun to

The unself-conscious laughter of children to

The fragrance of lilac blooms in June.

For in death you were swept up into him

And since he holds all things then it’s not a stretch

At all to say you’re now a part of the grand show.

Mary Oliver would say you’re EVIDENCE OF THE CONTINUANCE.

But Kara Tippetts would grin wide and say Oh, Mary, 

After death there is something else. 

There is everything else. There is Jesus. 

 

P.S. – You’ll have to forgive us if we have days or weeks where

We are unlikeable in our grief. This is only because we liked you so very much.

Death may have lost its sting, but it still burns.

And we press on here in the strange beauty of sadness.