L-O-V-E

This week has been a rough one. This week has been a beautiful one. This week has been a time of joy and sorrow. A time of peace and crying out and peace again. A time of listening. A time of praying. A time of comforting. A time of grieving. A time of scratching my head and going hmmm softly to myself.

This week, the world lost the light of a beautiful soul. Judy passed away peacefully last Saturday. After courageously engaging in a fierce four year battle with stage IV breast cancer, she went home. We all gathered in Arizona to mourn our loss and to celebrate her life.

Wednesday, I had the opportunity to sit by Lynx Lake with her 11 year-old son Nicholas and talk, listen, pray, and cry. We talked about Judy. We talked about life. We talked about heaven. Nick said that he thought heaven might look a bit like Lynx Lake: still waters, tall pine trees, blue sky with fluffy clouds, quiet. It felt a lot like heaven to me. I can't think of anything more delightful than peacefully sitting beside still waters under a canopy of pine trees and blue sky talking to my young friend about his mother. The three of us had a conversation - me, Nick, and God. It was lovely. It was holy ground.

Later that evening, I met a man who preached at me and let me know that "Now that you have acknowledged Christ, you must O-B-E-Y, obey!". I looked around me to see if I was at a spelling bee. I wanted to respond with, "I love Jesus, J-E-S-U-S, Jesus". I am into obedience also, but I believe that obedience and service arise out of love. Christianity without L-O-V-E is simply missing the point. As I sat and patiently listened as this kindly gentleman sermonized, I thought back to my afternoon at the lake with Nicholas and I thought about my dear friend Judy. And I thought, I must L-O-V-E, love! That's where it's at

Judy was a woman who knew how to love. She embodied love in the way that she generously shared her heart and her spirit with all that she encountered. She was completely open, honest, genuine, and real. The first time I met her, she gave me a HUGE hug before she even gave me her name, and I said to myself "I am in, I am so in." I was totally hooked. We laughed together and we cried together and she welcomed me into her home and into her family. Judy was the best kind of woman friend. When I needed a sister, she was a sister. When I needed a mother's advice, she spoke honestly. All of the time, she was a tried and true, trusted friend.

From walking with Judy through cancer, I learned more about God and how He operates. I learned about big faith. I learned about true hope. I learned that sometimes when we pray for healing of the body, it is actually the heart and soul that get restored. Through cancer, God did something astounding and holy in the innermost chambers of Judy. Even as she experienced pain and suffering and heartache, God revealed His heart for Judy as He remained ever loving, ever faithful, unshakable, unchangeable, and rock solid. Through cancer, Judy and her husband Skip developed a Johnny and June kind of marriage - an unconditional, sacrificial, and interdependent love. Judy became more whole and more beautiful even as she lost first her breast and then her hair. Her presence was so much greater than her body as she began to slowly and painfully slough off her mortal coil. Through cancer, Judy's relationships deepened and she became the best forgiver I ever did see. Judy was able to forgive the things that for many of us, would seem truly unforgivable. She forgave easily, openly, with a smile and an absolutely delectable Judy hug. She often spoke about the big eraser she used in forgiving those things in the past that had once weighed heavy. Skip told me that I could have anything from the house that reminded me of her. I didn't need any tangible object, but I did walk out of their home with her giant virtual eraser in my back pocket to remind me that my God is a God of forgiveness, clean slates, and new beginnings.

The funeral service was filled with tears and laughter and I half expected Judy to start laughing with us from her open casket. Looking around the room at all the faces, there was so much love for this dear lady who had so intimately touched each of our lives. Judy's love continually overflowed and burst out of her. Her love was a light that continues to burn and promises to leave a lasting legacy in all who had the pleasure of being touched by her life. L-O-V-E, that's where it's at. In the end, what else matters.