Meet the author: Kate Lab
Good morning! (or afternoon….or evening….)
Today’s writer interview is a little bit of a departure from the norm around here, but I love her work so much, I wanted to share it with everyone—and have an excuse to get to know her a little bit better! Kate Lab is a poet and artist living in Pennsylvania with her husband and kids. She’s a pastor’s wife, an identical twin, a self-proclaimed “huge nerd”, enjoys studying theology, and a loyal fan of the Sixers, Eagles, and Phillies. You can find her work here.
1. Have you always expressed yourself through writing and art?
No, I haven't. I have always been drawn to creative endeavors; I took every art class my high school provided. But only in the last five years have I consistently expressed and processed through creative writing, poetry specifically. I have always been impressed by and enjoyed poetry, but I was afraid of beginning as a mediocre poet. My perspective changed when my son was born almost five years ago. I thought, "Even if my poetry isn't good, it might be worthwhile to him, written for him and by his mom." It gave me the confidence to practice something I enjoyed without beginning as an expert. (This is a very foolish mentality. Don't think how I did. Everyone starts a new skill as a beginner.)
2. Your work is a combination of both visual art and words. Which comes first?
Words almost exclusively come first to me. I am usually struck by a phrase, new learning, conviction, or experience I want to write down and process. Writing down what I'm feeling in poetic form helps me to name and understand my emotions, why I feel them, and how it is being used right now by God for my good and his glory. I can wrestle with words, timing, and format in a way that relieves emotional congestion and then release it. But I'm fascinated by how the graphic design of a poem can change how we perceive it. The type, the color, and the companion art of poetry can make us feel before we start reading, or it can be a distraction from the written content. And sometimes, a simple image can shock, awe, or captivate instantaneously in a way words can't.
3. Where is a place you feel most at home?
I am an introvert, so I feel at home at home. I love being at home with my family. But this summer, I have remembered how much I love hiking in the woods. I love the sights and sounds, the feeling of working hard physically and having an adventure.
4. Tell us about someone who has inspired you creatively.
George Herbert was a prolific Christian poet. He lived only 39 years as a faithful pastor in a small church in England. On his deathbed, he left a book of poetry (116 poems) to a friend as a record of his conversations with God over all aspects of life, with instructions to burn the book if it wasn't helpful. He is wonderfully concise and honest, humble and God-honoring. I first heard George Herbert when Tim Keller quoted this stanza of Herbert's poetry in a sermon: "O all ye who pass by, behold and see; Man stole the fruit, but I must climb the tree." And I was astounded at how beautiful the lines were.
5. What kinds of books do you gravitate toward in your own reading life?
In my current stage of life, I am an avid fiction and fantasy listener. I'm very grateful for audiobooks in this busy toddler mom, pastor's wife, and part-time work season. And my auditory retention has grown dramatically. I love Lord of the Rings, the Narnia Series, and Harry Potter. Give me an unlikely group of heroes defeating a terrible evil against all odds, and I'll read that story over and over. I just finished "The Aldoran Chronicles" by Michael Wisehart. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
6. What is your superpower?
I love this question. My superpower is that I'm not often embarrassed, especially socially. I don't care at all about looking silly. The older and more secure I get, the more this superpower is true of me. I love to play pretend with my kids. I don't care where I am - in the front yard, a grocery store aisle. I love to ask questions of people and genuinely care about the answer, even if the question is a "dumb" one. I don't want to be distracting or the center of attention, but I also don't mind if you catch me sword-fighting with my kids at the park. It's a relief and sweet freedom.
7. What is one of the best pieces of advice you've ever gotten?
No one perfectly understands how you feel except Jesus. Even two people going through identical situations will feel differently about it. At the same time, we all have the same scope of emotions as humans. We can feel with one another without identical experiences. We can use the tools of communication and empathy to understand one another. Don't let different experiences keep you from engaging in someone else's joy or grief. Do you love and care for the person? Have you felt sorrow or joy before? Ask questions, and seek understanding. Much of my lament poetry is written for my friends and family, not from my personal life experience. But it is also very personal because I love my friends and family, and they invite me to rejoice and grieve with them.
Thank you so much, Kate! Go check out Kate’s Substack
or explore her poetry and art at her website.Thanks for reading!