Too Soon Judy Curtis

We were too young to know what Billy Joel meant when he sang that only the good die young.

And though some among of us still think that 50 something isn’t so young anymore, it’s still too soon to say goodbye to one we love. From Horn Lake to Hernando, Oxford to Iuka, Brandon to Gulfport, friends whose lives have been shaped and formed by the ministry of Judy Curtis, know…there was more life and love and laughter in Judy to be shared.

It must have been about 10 days after Judy was diagnosed with cancer that Jim and I decided it’d be a good thing to take our wives to dinner. We’d do that from time to time, not often enough, but Lynn and I invited, Jim accepted. I don’t think he asked Judy what she thought.

It was the McAlilly's turn to drive so we picked them up, and we went, as was often our custom, to High Cotton. We laughed some, though not like we normally would. We could sense that it was hard for Judy and Jim to enter into that space of unknowing.

It was hard.

Still, Judy shared an experience she had had that afternoon, of praying fervently for healing and God giving her an image. It was the image of Lazarus coming forth from the tomb. What we couldn’t grasp I think Judy knew on some deep, intuitive level.

I believe Judy knew that before she could come forth from the tomb, she would have to enter it. Somehow, Judy knew that before she would know Easter she would experience Good Friday.

So God gave her the image of Lazarus, as a guide and comfort. In ways that we cannot comprehend, the mystery of God was revealed to Judy that Sunday afternoon. And now, the grave clothes are being unwrapped and Judy has entered God’s loving embrace.

It’s too soon.

For Jim, and for the Trinity Church family, it’s too soon.

The miracle we longed for we did not receive.

And so Thursday night Judy entered that unhindered, uninterrupted presence of almighty God. She entered that space where there is no more crying, no more sorrow, no more pain. Her soul is free from her body and God has received her.

God has spoken, I believe, those words we all long to hear, “well done, thy good, and faithful servant."

Much too soon.

Thanks be to God for the life and love of Judy Curtis.