Another Day for Much
Another Day Along the Way
Friday, August 18, 2006
Another day,
"Not really much up here."
The nice lady at the convenience store had good intentions. Hearing about my departure from Orlando and my arrival in north Georgia, she sensed a need to apologize for smallness, for nothingness, for not really much.
But I've reached different conclusions about this place. I see much. Very much.
Since our move, all hasn't gone the way we wished. A few health concerns, missing many friends, a house not selling, a vehicle crashing, and adjusting to new positions: everything has not been easy. Still, I want to edit the lady's behind-the-counter comment. We can keep the southern drawl while changing the words. Let's try these:
"There's much here. Very much up here."
I see life in the people here. Sad, happy, young, old, confident, fearful. People. Real people. And I like them.
I see life here. Yes, many of those I knew when I lived here before have moved outside of their human bodies. And yes, I think of Mr. Hart's death now whenever I drive by his house instead of always thinking of haircuts, basketball, and great stories. And yes, some buildings are old and need to be rebuilt or destroyed.
But I see life here. Much life. College students entering a new world and I want to tell them: "There's much here. So much!"
Sharp turns and small hills, barking dogs and smelly chickens, lightning bugs and friendly people: I see life here.
Yesterday a lady remembered me. She walked over and said, "I can't believe you live here again. I never forget you laughing so much when you were young." Though no longer young, I laughed at her words.
I saw life in her. And she brought a little more life to me.
For each of us, let us see much and experience much life - "really much" - wherever we live. Do not let these days rush past us and leave us missing out on the much which is available.
Along the way,
Chris Maxwell
Powerful Statement: To be able to experience fully the sadness and absurdity that life so often presents and still find reasons to go on is an act of courage abetted by our ability to both love and laugh.
(Gordon Livingston, M. D., Too Soon Old, Too Late Smart)
add your comments on the blog...
Also, Emmanuel College Alpha Weekend: Friday night, Saturday night, Sunday morning:
Chris Maxwell speaking
Friday, August 18, 2006
Another day,
"Not really much up here."
The nice lady at the convenience store had good intentions. Hearing about my departure from Orlando and my arrival in north Georgia, she sensed a need to apologize for smallness, for nothingness, for not really much.
But I've reached different conclusions about this place. I see much. Very much.
Since our move, all hasn't gone the way we wished. A few health concerns, missing many friends, a house not selling, a vehicle crashing, and adjusting to new positions: everything has not been easy. Still, I want to edit the lady's behind-the-counter comment. We can keep the southern drawl while changing the words. Let's try these:
"There's much here. Very much up here."
I see life in the people here. Sad, happy, young, old, confident, fearful. People. Real people. And I like them.
I see life here. Yes, many of those I knew when I lived here before have moved outside of their human bodies. And yes, I think of Mr. Hart's death now whenever I drive by his house instead of always thinking of haircuts, basketball, and great stories. And yes, some buildings are old and need to be rebuilt or destroyed.
But I see life here. Much life. College students entering a new world and I want to tell them: "There's much here. So much!"
Sharp turns and small hills, barking dogs and smelly chickens, lightning bugs and friendly people: I see life here.
Yesterday a lady remembered me. She walked over and said, "I can't believe you live here again. I never forget you laughing so much when you were young." Though no longer young, I laughed at her words.
I saw life in her. And she brought a little more life to me.
For each of us, let us see much and experience much life - "really much" - wherever we live. Do not let these days rush past us and leave us missing out on the much which is available.
Along the way,
Chris Maxwell
Powerful Statement: To be able to experience fully the sadness and absurdity that life so often presents and still find reasons to go on is an act of courage abetted by our ability to both love and laugh.
(Gordon Livingston, M. D., Too Soon Old, Too Late Smart)
add your comments on the blog...
Also, Emmanuel College Alpha Weekend: Friday night, Saturday night, Sunday morning:
Chris Maxwell speaking
14 Comments:
i needed that
when i first came to e.c., all i saw was the "nothing much." after my 3 years here, though, i see my life. my own life, away from my parents, that i built. i see God's hands building us up as a campus. :) thanks for the encouraging word, new campus pastor!
yeah, i've been here for 11 years now, but i have come to realize that there is a lot here. there are some amazing people who really love God and each other, and especially here at Emmanuel, I am experiencing community, albeit small, and there is nowhere else in the world that i would rather be spending my college years.
Hey Pastor Chris!
I'm totally with you on the seeing people and the life inside them thing. Personally, I love seeing variety and life in people, hearing their stories, getting caught back up again, all that great stuff. So, as to making time to see it more often - I'll take you up on that dare! Let's roll! And hey, that quote at the end honestly went completely over my head the first three times I read it, but then it finally sank in. I really like that...it's not gonna be a very popular slogan or anything, due to its wordiness, but the whole, "Don't be afraid to laugh with yourself and love life enough to keep courageously living it," thing definitely hit home. Lovin it, sir!
Keep it up!
Stand Strong
Sven
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Sometimes "living" is just an unconscious process with many of us - and that's a serious mistake, because God created us to live for Him and to serve Him. Somehow along life, we might have missed that. When we get in touch with what He really wants to do in our lives, everything takes on an entirely differenct perspective. We start to smell flowers, to listen to the songs we sing, to rejoice that we are a part of His wonderful creation, rather than to complain about what we don't have or what we can't do. He has an abundant life ready for us to reach out and claim. It really doesn't matter, then, where we are geographically, because where He is "something beyond much!"
Wow! This is exciting to read. I am happy to have you as a campus pastor because you are truely being and shining hope and life into others. I, too, have been seeing much. I catch myself randomly smiling because I witness an event or an act of service and love from other to others, and it makes me a part of the "much". The community of much starts with allowing the smallest, even oddest nudgings of God to take place. It's in those small moments where is find the most of the "much". hehe Thanks for blog.
<><, Ashley
I had the pleasure of visiting Franklin Springs/Royston recently and although I made and laughed at many small town jokes prior to my trip, I was amazed at just how much more there is up there even when compared to a city like Orlando. But you are right Pastor Chris. There is more to be seen and felt and lived wherever we are. We need to get past the often self imposed distractions so that we can both live and give life.
Like another poster said, when I first came here [it hasn't even been a week yet!], my mentality was that it was just another college and hopefully I'd deal with this one better than my last.. but after the past few days, I know that God has me here for a reason. Even in these past few days, my outlook on everything has changed so much. I'm excited for this year. Very, very excited.
You know, the first time I saw you, I was thinking you were just another campus pastor. However, over the past few days I have noticed that you really care for people. You have made me realize just how much I need to let go of myself and care for others more. I actually want to meet a grimy, alcohol smelling, man so I could do something that would show him love. Those guys are people too. It is hard to look past the smell, the look, and the thought that "this guy will probably use me to get more alcohol" mentality and just plain love him. I, as a Christian need to though. After all, isn't this the least I can do when Jesus loves me the way I am.
It's so awesome to see life in a world full of havoc. I thank God for little places like E.C. and franklin springs where you have people that trully care about you. It reminds me of just how much God loves me. Jesus spoke truest of all when he said "I have come to give you life, and give it more abundantly"
I love it here. God is here. Like you're always saying, this is the "God with us College." With God here, I don't know how anyone could claim that there's not much here. True, it's not across the street from the mall complex or six flags, but that doesn't matter when compared to being close to Jesus.
*grins* Technically, after this morning's final ALPHA service, we're now attending the "God WithIN us college!
Stand Strong
Sven
><>
Hey Pastor...
I just want to let you know that we are definitely talking with God about your current surgery...that it turns out exactly the way He wants and that out of this whole thing your faith and ours will be even more deeply rooted in pure trust and love of Him. Tell us how it turns out, k? See you soon.
Stand Strong
Sven
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Hey,
i'm a freshman and when i came to here i was relly scared. i didn't really see the whole picture. now i have been here a week and i can see the whole picture. im still a little scared but i know with God helping me along the way that everything will be ok. Thanks Pastor Chris.
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