I learned a lot about you after you were gone

Your son put the pieces together

It was hard

A eulogy

My Christmas card

You had your start in New York

But you weren’t really ever born until Vermont

Where you met the Lord and were forever changed

The writing of your life switched font

Isn’t it strange

You met a white dove of a woman you couldn’t live without

Married her

You both traveled to Virginia

To a forgotten neighborhood on the coast

You planted and tilled

Preached the Gospel

Did whatever God willed

Ministered to the lowest of the low

Went to the darkest corners

Ones only the outcasts know

Encountered those in their deepest remorse

The Holy Spirit empowered you

You told a story so desperately needing to be heard there: repentance, mercy, forgiveness

Even peace, hope, love, and joy

You called all into prayer

At 16, I got to witness and taste

Even met a boy – who’d later become my husband

We couldn’t leave that place

So many were touched

So many saved

Prostitutes, the homeless, druggies, single moms, the disabled, thieves

The least of these

Lives changed – out of the water

On fire

The kingdom here

I believed

As a leader, you contended

There was controversy

What’s new

You were just a man

Now your sons are grown

And there’s a precious granddaughter here

Your faithful wife

Through all the tumultuous years

So many touched

The fruit of the seeds you’ve sown

Next week there’s a memorial service

It feels so odd

You won’t be there

But I’m sure of this

You’re with God

And I can already hear you laughing on the other side

Home for Christmas

The festivities carry on here

But the Christmas lights are a little duller this year

The way you went out

A son, a father, a prophet, royalty, redeemed

Thanks for calling out the excellence in me

We’re both anticipating the final reunion

Till I see you again

Till life really begins

Till eternal communion

Let us who are here hold true

For soon enough we’ll all be home for Christmas too