Memorial for Kevin

[sfpuppy]

Kevin's close friend, Rev.Janie Spahr, penned this memorial to Kevin:

Recovering liturgy queen, wrestler with angels,
Balancer of Protestant principle and Catholic substance, Transformer of Tillich,
Believer in cosmic unity, challenger of unjust structures,
Hope-giver of insight into an erotic spirituality;

You, who said “My body is a wreck but my inner life is fabulous.”
You, who lived in turbocharged spiritual life.
You, who led us to fight for our rights and claim our rites for Baptism.
You, who were touched, cradled, pleasured, and tickled by God.
You, who invited us to join you in an angelic wrestling match where you and we were named, touched and chosen.
You, whose identity integrated Gay, Catholic and Christian.
You, who were teacher, preacher, priest and prophet of a new spiritual community.
You, who said “Redemption is everyone’s job.”
You, who believed and lived to afflict the comfortable and comfort the afflicted.
You, who lost your place in hierarchical structures, found in taking the heat, a freedom far beyond those limits.

Kevin, in your leather jacket or blue blazer, whether at home with Tom or nailing a protest on the door at the Vatican;
Whether in San Anselmo with your parents or out being a gay evangelist worldwide;
We know you are helping from the other side with the One who dreamed you into being.
Helping us all to realize who we might dare to be as we, like you, join the fight against unjust structures that keep us from our freedom and our spirituality.

You, who now soar like a hawk above the forest,
You, who now roll in and through majestic waves,
You, who now are the shaft of light through redwoods,
You, whose name, Kevin Calegari, transcends this time and place and moves our hearts forever,
We honor you always and in all ways,
Our Mister Dignity.

Blessings, then brother, from a lesbian evangelist
Who is counting on you,
To be the eternal agitator for justice.
We’ll see you there,
Leather wings and all.
I love you.

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On this 11th anniversary of Kevin's death, we ask God to grant him eternal rest and let perpetual light shine upon him.