Chris Maxwell's Newsletter

Another Day Along the Way
Friday, December 30, 2005

Another day,
How can we end the year? How can we enter the new one?

I'm not sure how to control circumstances or situations. Nor am I sure how to force emotions into preferred feelings or turn financial needs into sudden miracles. But I do believe in change.

And I do have a few suggestions for bringing good change. Here they are; apply them if you choose:

- Laugh more. Smile more. Give often. Forgive everyone.

- Guide your mind instead of letting it guide you. Through reading and writing, we nurture it. By avoiding dangerous scenes and words, we protect it. If we tell our minds what to think and redirect them when they go into hazardous regions, we better ourselves. Think about what you are thinking about. And do something about it.

- Silence the mouth when it needs to be silenced. Speak WHAT should be spoken only WHEN it should be said, and HOW it should be declared. Rank the words recently voiced. Glance at your grade. Decide ways to improve that score in the 2006.

- Stop complaining and criticizing. Offer applause more often.

- Shed a few tears. Our bodies were created to cry for a reason. Release the hurt so it doesn't bring more pain in the future. Denial doesn't work. Taking pain out on others brings more damage. Take time to cry.

- Eat better. Exercise habitually. Rest well. Pray daily.

- Schedule time for you, for silence, for honest confessions to God, for fun with family and friends, for acts of kindness to strangers and enemies. Let nothing rob you of those plans.

- Do unto others what you wish others would do for you. Give, not to get back. Give, not keeping a record. Just do unto others what you wish others would do for you.

- Take a risk, refusing to let the fear of failure force defeat before even trying.

I could write more. But those few thoughts are enough for me, for now, for today, and for walking through the door of a new year. And I need to work on myself to apply them better.

Along the way,
Chris

Powerful Statement: Each day, in itself, brings with it an eternity.
(Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist)

Another Day Along the Way
Wednesday, December 28, 2005

Another day,
Twenty-six years. That is how long it has been. Twenty-six years.

Yesterday was the anniversary of my mother's departure from earth.

Photo albums reveal she really did live for nineteen of my years. When my hands turn pages and my eyes stare at pictures, I see history. Her smile looks so large in her small body. Her facial expressions help me almost hear laughter. A shot of the family at a kitchen table allows me to smell our ancient mornings: the coffee for them, the orange juice for me, the eggs and sausage for us all.

Songs adjust the channels of my brain. They turn me toward Georgia, toward mountains, toward confessions, toward a dance. They turn me back in time. I hear again as she sings along with Johnny Cash while he walks the line. I hear again as she sings along with her songs and my songs and our songs.

At ball games I imagine what she might be saying, how she might be cheering. At church services I guess about her dress, her prayers. At home I want her talking to my wife and her grandsons. In the yard I want to ask her how to keep flowers alive. In the car I want to tell her to listen to my favorite music while I drive. In the mornings I want her up early for a walk with her only son.

I called her Mama. When I one day meet her in heaven, I plan to call her Mama. Until then, I must do what Mama told me many times. I hear the southern accent, the soft heart, and the firm faith as that sweet voice said, "Come on, now. You can do all things through Christ."

Rather than arguing with her, I need to listen to Mama. Rather than just thinking about how much I still miss her after so many rapidly racing years, I should recall what she taught me. About life, about love, about laughter: I need to remember.

And, just in case they go online in heaven, I need to tell her this: "I miss you so much."

Along the way,
Chris Maxwell

Prayer Surrendered: If I should die before I wake...

Another Day Along the Way
Sunday, December 25, 2005

Another day,
Shepherds? Living. Keeping watch. Becoming terrified when an angel appears and God's glory shines.

Shepherds? Listening. Keeping ear. Becoming amazed when the angel advizes them, informs them and joins an angelic choir to sing of God's shining glory.

Shepherds? Choosing. Hurrying toward. Rushing to see an event, an experience, a scene, a Son.

Shepherds? Staring. Knowing truth. Telling others of what the angel said.

Shepherds? Returning. Glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen. The scene, so real, just as they had been told.

Us? We see, but do we notice? We feel fear, but do we know why? We hear a promise, but do we let it fly by? While living, do we listen? While watching, do we notice? While offered a chance, do we go? When asked, do we tell what we know?

Do we return, glorifying and praising God for all the things we've heard and seen?

Along the way,
Chris Maxwell

Powerful Story: And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."
Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."
So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
(Luke 2:8-20, NIV)

Another Day Along the Way
Thursday, December 15, 2005

Another day,
He has chosen a variety of numbers when playing sports. His football, basketball and baseball jerseys provided an 11 or a six or a 64 or a one. Today his life wears a number that gives his parents a shake. Our middle son Aaron turns 18 today. Eighteen.

Isn't it too soon for that to be his number?

I asked Debbie how she feels about our middle-son's eighteenth birthday. She said, "I feel he is slipping away. Everything went by so fast." What is difficult for her? "It is hard to think of him leaving." What does she remember about his younger years? "So much. He had a big smile. I remember his first goal in his first basketball game when he ran over to me in the stands during the middle of the game, kissed me and said, 'I love you.' Then he raced down the court to play defense. I think about Aaron catching the baseball and getting excited, and about him hitting the ball and sliding into home. Wearing cowboy boots. Him being in plays at church. I remember so much. He's just grown up too fast."

Like we did with each of our three sons, we named Aaron Wesley Maxwell after a biblical character and a historical leader of our beliefs. Now, as is happening with each of our sons, he is racing down the court and becoming a man. And, like each of us, he is shaping his own history.

Shirt sizes and shoe sizes. Food and music and hair and phrases: styles, preferences, trends. Laughter and tears. Conversations and silence. Christmas seasons of the past. Christmas seasons of the now. Christmas seasons of the future. The child. The teen. The man.

People change quickly. We age, hardly recalling what has occurred during the transition, the transformation.

We wish Aaron a happy birthday just 10 days before a Merry Christmas. We wish him a future of joy, health, and passion for God. We just wish he didn't grow so old so hastily.

As I've written often, I ask this question again: "Why are we all in such a hurry?" We could blame it all on the speed of time, but we shouldn't. Rather than placing blame, we can decide to apply three words I frequently use. Enjoy the journey.

While rushing through the 16 remaining days of December, while buying gifts and digesting calories, while hurrying here and racing there, while boarding planes and opening presents, while wearing coats and hearing carols, let us enjoy this.

Let sadness be replaced with gladness. Let anger be thrown away as forgiveness takes its place. Let self-talk sing songs to us about birthdays and laughter and peace and angels. Let us see a son growing up too quickly and remember how our Heavenly Father felt as He watched His son grow up and die for all sons and daughters.

I loved watching The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe. I love the seasonal songs. I plan to love some chilly air. Though so much of the commercial extravaganza bothers me during this month, I refuse to let the bad rob me of joy. Let us all love this life of walking through closets and entering new land, this world of winters finally enjoying Christmas, this world of rushing through time.

As we love it, let us pause. Watching our Aarons ride life's sleighs over the rivers and through the woods, let us see as much as we can. And let us enjoy this life. Let us enjoy those riding.

Debbie and I sure do enjoy Aaron. Even though he is riding too fast.

Along the way,
Chris Maxwell

Powerful Statement: I sometimes wonder whether all pleasures are not substitutes for joy.
(C. S. Lewis)

Another Day Along the Way
Thursday, December 8, 2005

Another day,
Philadelphia was a nice place to visit. Enjoying a few days with Debbie away from our normal world. Experiencing a convention where disabilities are accepted and honored. Seeing a few drops of snow falling on a chilly Friday afternoon. Knowing that even when plane flights are postponed others flight might have room. Realizing when fire alarms wake us at midnight that good news might come through the speakers after all. Riding through a city and observing reminders of a nation's history and heritage. Hearing a young man sing with a wonderful voice as he kept rhythm with body movements unblocked by his wheelchair. Listening to stories from an athlete who chose to deal with his life changing experience.

Though we often think we are isolated, none of us are really alone. For Christmas this year, please remember that. Take time to notice the snow, hear the voices, appreciate the history. While wrapping and rushing and spending and eating, apply these two words: take time.

I know. I'm too busy; you're too busy; we're all too busy. But let us take time. Rather than letting time take us-control us, rule over us, force us, depress us-let us take time and make it what we want. While changing flights in Orlando, we had a choice to panic and protest or to relax and adjust. While seeing just a few drops of snow blow downward, we had a choice to fuss because it wasn't enough or because it was too cold or to smile and appreciate a glance at H2O much different from our normal Florida rains. As we seek to find a way to rush before closing time and sleep a little before wake up time and eat lunch before dinner time, I pray we hit pause.

Let us pray and calm our nerves. Let us laugh. Let us look into history and dream toward the future. Let us give. Let us choose to take time, and make December a nice month to visit.

Along the way,
Chris Maxwell

Powerful Statement: And look how God handed Paul that strength. God taught Paul to be content in every situation. That is a rare accomplishment. Whatever the circumstances, this leader of the early church did not say he escaped prison by God's power; instead he wrote, "I've learned to be content."
Read the word again: content. Read this one: contentment.
Think of your prison, your bondage, your thorns in the flesh, your unanswered prayers, your feelings of rejection, your poor vision, your unfulfilled dreams, your damaged brain, your chemotherapy, your medical expenses, your never-ending pain. Think. And ask: Am I content?

(Chris Maxwell, Changing My Mind: A Journey of Disability and Joy)