Chris Maxwell's Newsletter

Another Day Along the Way
Thursday, August 31, 2006

Another day,
What determines our decisions?

We think, we feel, we wonder, we decide. But why? Why do we do the things we do?

I've written often the importance of knowing "the voices we hear" and how they influence "the choices we make."

Think about the voices: thoughts, fears, past mistakes, self-doubt, opinions of others, expected opinions of others, risks of failures, risks of success, deep wounds, friends, enemies, desires, expectations. The list goes on. The voices continue. It helps decisions when we know why we think the way we think.

Now, consider the choices: yes, no, wait, never, not yet, tomorrow, pursue with caution, pursue with courage, receive confirmation from a key person, see if the pieces fall in place, what happens if you do, what happens if you don't, why, why not, move forward.

What decisions should you be making soon? Do you often avoid decisions, hitting delay in hopes of having a clear sign from heaven? Do you fear failure so strongly that you rarely view yourself as a decision maker who has God's strength inside you?

Choices aren't always easy. To make correct decisions, we need to identify the voices - or thoughts - speaking into our minds. As we detect reasons we feel particular ways, we can gain a greater grasp of true motives, correct choices, and possible outcomes.

Students and their schedules. Couples and their conversations. People and their expectations. Workers and their possibilities. Writers and their words. Humans and their hurts, their doubts, their scars, their fears. Life and its pain.

We live in this. We know much about what has hurt us, though we often hide it or place blame incorrectly. Help comes when we locate the voices and make the right choices.

Rather than expecting one more failure, we can move forward and take risks. Silence the voices of you-cannot and replace them with the truth of you-can. Kick aside the voices of not-you and replace it with the assurance of yes-you. Accept normal fears as guides for caution, but detect and defeat the lies. Replace them with wisdom, knowledge, advice, and courage.

And take the next step. The decision. The opportunity. The agreement. The deal. See the step, make sure it is correct, and take it.

Years from now, you will be grateful your choices were not controlled by voices which did not belong.

Along the way,
Chris Maxwell

Powerful Statement: I think God wants to know whether we really want the wonderful gift of His Dream in our life. (Bruce Wilkinson, The Dream Giver)


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Another Day Along the Way
Friday, August 25, 2006

Another day,
Things are not always what we assume. Life doesn't always go as we expect.

I'm typing this as I sit in a soft, tan chair in a comfortable waiting room. Soon the nurse will call my name and invite me to another room. A smaller, less-crowded, cold room where a doctor subtracts skin cancer from my upper back. Three new words officially name my problem: Basal Cell Carcinoma. One word declares the need: change.

The mole hidden by my shirt wasn't a mole after all. It was skin cancer. My health needed its removal.

So I'm sitting and writing while waiting.

What about other unhealthy growths in our lives? Do we know them? Do they own us? Do we pretend they aren't around?

We often fail to determine true conditions of the skin, of the minds, of the souls. We incorrectly treat cells which need removal. We ignore or neglect the importance of cutting and removing damaged and dangerous goods. We avoid change, choosing the cancerous growth of avoidance rather than the short-term pain of permanent improvement.

Things are not always what we assume. Life doesn't always go as we expect.

Find the other malignant portions in life. Cancerous self-talk, habits, choices. Find. Cut. Remove. Bleed a little and be made better.

I must go. They just called my name.

Now, in the cold room and waiting for the procedure, I continue reading notes I've written about the cause of this cancer. On the physical side, I wonder why we view tanning as improving our appearance while it damages the skin God made. On the spiritual side, I take a moment to thank God for how He removes what doesn't belong.

Today, many stitches later (some hidden within; some visible on the skin), problems have gone. And in life, I pray we each allow removals and enter recovery filled with hopes for spiritual health and renewal.

We are not required to make the needed changes. Just to allow them. I pray we will.

Along the way,
Chris Maxwell

Powerful Statement: I need a God for now. I need healing now. I need help now. Yes, even greater things will happen someday. But salvation is now.
(Rob Bell, Velvet Elvis)

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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)

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