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.
“there is Jesus” – thank you, yes. Blessing to you in your grief, John. Her entire story is just remarkable.
“…the strange beauty of sadness. ”
How very true. Always a thank you to you John.
In the depths of dirt and the sweep of the wind, I hear the loss, I feel the chill, Yet the cross, yet the cross.
Witnessed. Thank you.
Thank you for posting this John. I was hoping you would. I also was looking forward to re-meeting for a few moments this afternoon and I’m sorry that didn’t happen.
Bless you, sue tell
Thank you for sharing with us… the way she did. Sweet, tender sympathies to her loved ones and those who loved her well.
Thank you for acknowledging the grief and sadness as well as the victory.
Thank you for this most spectacular piece of writing. You were tremendous today, in your most brave and sensitive way of speaking; reading it written here just brings a new depth, a fresh emotion. Praying for Jesus to bind your wounds and bring you His peace and joy, strengthening you in every way. So glad we can return to this poem again and again in the coming months.
We spend our whole journey here on this planet learning to grieve. Thank you for this lesson in pressing on.
[…] honor to be a daughters of our most incredible loving King. In her Memorial service John Blase shared the below poem. I loved it so much I thought I should […]
Oh. The hope and truth here. What a holy hush, an honoring of love and life. Thank you.
I was so blessed by this poem that you wrote and shared at Kara’s memorial service. Thank you.
[…] says that we don’t grieve as the world grieves, but you know what? We still grieve. My friend John Blase says it like this: “Death may have lost its sting, but it still […]
This poem is perfect…though I did not know Kara, I loved her. And I’ve lost people I knew and loved. It is so right “we are unlikable in our grief” and “we press on here in the strange beauty of sadness.” My prayers for you, John, and all who had the privilege of knowing such a beautiful child of God, who now is part of the “everything else…Jesus.”
Back here, to read it again, John. I didn’t know her, except through you and Mer and her blog/FB. But cannot wait to meet her in person someday. Hugs to you all who miss her so deeply.
i keep coming back to read this…”there is something else. there is everything else. there is Jesus.” thank you.
[…] that we don’t grieve as the world grieves, but you know what? We still grieve. My friend John Blase says it like this: “Death may have lost its sting, but it still […]