Curtis Woodhead

Curtis Ray Woodhead

In 2010 when I was a younger man I worker the Census here in McLouth. During that time I walked up to a little 2 bedroom ranch house on Liberty street. It was at this house that I met Curtis Woodhead for the first time. That first meeting we must have talked for over an hour an a half. That is was happens when God puts 2 talks on the same front porch trying to solve a problem. I say problem because I was trying to figure out if the fixer-up-er behind his property was occupied. Curtis said it was not but the other neighbor affectionately call wing-man insisted that it was.

The really important part of this story is when Curtis told me the way to Harker Realestate and Insurance. He said I have family that owns that and they will tell you whats-up, they know everything about this town. I did not realize it at the time but this new friend of mine would become family because he had just told me the way to where I would meet my future wife.

After Sarah and I were married I became not only family but also neighbors with Curtis because we moved in to basement apartment across the street from where he was living there on Liberty Street. The only home between us was the fixer-upper which Curtis and I shared a laugh about.

I tell you all this because it reminds me of a story in the Bible that I read to Curtis multiple times in the hospital. John 14 verse 1, Curtis liked this passage. We know that for sure because he was hooked up to all those machines that monitored his vitals and every time I would read it to him it numbers improved.

Even at the end when he was worn out and sleeping most of the day when I read this passage to him he woke up to listen to it.

Read the passage.

I will remember Curtis through this passage 3 different ways.

1. Curtis was a father:

The last time I saw Curtis just hours before he crossed over. He open his eyes wide, they were yellow because his liver and kidneys were no longer functioning, and he looked his daughter eye to eye. It was the look of love that only a father can give to his children.

Jesus says in my Fathers house. We have a Father who looked to us eye to eye with love when He sent His Son Jesus. He looked to us in love so that we could know the way to His house.

2. Curtis was a neighbor:

There are many rooms. God’s heavenly house is compared here to an inn. The kind of place where you go to say with the whole family when you are on vacation. A party place, a place of good times, and a place of memories. For a short time Curtis was my neighbor here in McLouth and he was a fun neighbor which is good because in our Father house of many rooms he will be my neighbor forever. I think I can get use to that idea.

3. Curtis knew the way:

Thomas who often unfairly gets a bad reputation as a doubter here asks Jesus just the same kind of question I would have asked Him. Actually Thomas’ question sounds like the kind of question that Curtis would have asked Jesus if he was in that situation too. “We don’t know where you are going how can we know the way?”

John 14:6 CSB

Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

I use to always explain this verse by saying

Without Him there is not going… He is that Way.

Without Him there is no knowing … He is the Truth.

And without Him there is no living … He is the life.

But the preacher at my uncle’s graveside said it differently and I believe the way he said it better fits Curtis and his personality. btw the preacher at my uncle’s graveside was my dad. He said,

Jesus is the Way that means He is the destination… He is the Truth that means He tells you how to get there… He is the life that mean when you get there it is going to be living.

Curtis liked to have a good time. He believed in living life and living it to its fullest. Jesus is the life in eternal life. Heave in the Old and New Testaments is always presented as a feast, or a wedding, or some kind of party and Jesus is the life of that party. He is also the one who sends out the invitations after all He also says he is the Way and the Truth.

I am trilled to tell you today that when I went to see Curtis in KU Med Center a couple months ago I read him this passage and ask him point blank if He believed in Jesus. Without batting an eye Curtis answered yes. I said now Curtis I want to make sure you understand what I am actually asking you here because there is a lot riding on this. I want to make sure you know how to get to heaven. Curtis assured me again that He had put his trust in Jesus and he believed that Jesus died on the cross for him and had asked Jesus to forgive his sins. Nicole was there too and she can confirm as a witness that Curtis assured me that his faith was only in Jesus.

and if that is not enough I went back the very next day read this passage over again and asked the same question again. To which Curtis assured me again not to worry bc he believe in Jesus.

John 14:1–2 (CSB)

“Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?”

You know what? Curtis is going to like his Fathers house. After all it was made for people of faith who like to have a good time. God made it and Jesus prepared it for people just like Curtis.