March 12: a sad anniversary, but a memory full with promise (Geoff Maul: 1954-2012)

Out of God’s fullness we have all received grace upon grace. (John 1:16)

On this day, March 12th one year ago, my brother Geoff completed his adventure here on earth and passed into eternity; he was just two weeks shy of 58.

It was one of those days that leaves you reeling and exhausted, spent of every resource. But it was also a day full with love, reassurance, faith, hope, and promise.

Thinking back, March 12 2012 makes the headlines for me not just in terms of poignancy and grief, but also as a transformational experience that is now an important chapter of my story, my testimony, my journey along the road less traveled by.

And so today, rather than shed fresh tears for the loss of my brother, I want to pause and give thanks for just a few of the signal characteristics that made Geoff Maul a larger than life personality (I’m not saying these were always fully appreciated, but they remain as gifts nonetheless!):

• his capacity to love;
• his enthusiasm for experience;
• his boundless determination to never miss anything;
• his incomprehensible sudden detours;
• his quest for authenticity in relationships;
• his willingness to learn;
• his unrelenting belief in the people he loved;
• his insistence that the wide range of people he loved somehow come together;
• his refusal to compromise;
• his over-the-top sense of drama;
• his unreasonable generosity;
• his dogged belief in the next great idea…

Today I am deeply grateful for my family, and I am keenly aware of how temporary life can be. And so, in light of that truth, may we all live this day with purpose, love, and enthusiasm. May we all engage life like we mean it, because anything else is a poor response to this most amazing gift and irreplaceable opportunity.

In love, and because of love – DEREK

a newsletter-ish post: 2012 in review

Dear family, friends, and most welcome visitors. My task today is to approximate a Christmas newsletter, touch on some highlights from the year, share my heart with you, and throw in a dozen photographs… all without exceeding my self-imposed 1,200 word limit. 

“From the fullness of God, we have all received grace upon grace” (John 1:16).

The theme of this letter is thanksgratitude. 2012 has offered both joy and grief; but everything – the hard stuff included – has been experienced, and processed, and will be remembered in the context of faith and blessing.

JANUARY, Rebekah and I experienced a most remarkable adventure, one that yet may become its own book. Greece, Egypt, Jordan and Israel. It was “OMG!” at every turn.

What we did, essentially, was to travel the biblical narrative. We followed the Children of Israel’s route from Cairo into Sinai, paused with Moses to look into the Promised Land from Mt. Nebo, explored the Galilee Jesus knew, then made our way to Jerusalem, completing the tour by taking communion at the Garden Tomb, the place of resurrection. (See January 16 and following for many amazing photographs).

FEBRUARY saw the release of Reaching Toward Easter, the first of two new books for 2012 (I recommend reading it for your Lenten devotions in 2013).

Then, MARCH 12, the most difficult moment of all, when my brother, Geoff (57), finally slipped loose from the limitations of his long struggle with cancer. This picture was taken a couple of days before he died; we had just competed the final 45-minute interview in a series of deep conversations that I will always cherish, and that will doubtless work their way into some future writings.

APRIL was bittersweet, as the Maul family all got together once again for the long anticipated “Grandma & Grandpa Maul’s 60th Anniversary Cruise.” Much of the planning had been done by Geoff, who loved travel with a passion.

We cruised on the Disney Magic, and we enjoyed a relaxing, redemptive week as a family. David and Grace Maul were married in 1952, and are entering their seventh decade as faithful witnesses to the beauty and the power of committed, mutually encouraging love (the picture is missing our grandson, David, who was sleeping in his stroller, just out of sight).

Andrew, Alicia, Rebekah, Derek, Craig, Naomi, David

SUMMER TRAVELS: After a relatively quiet MAY, Rebekah and I hit the road at the end of JUNE to kick off a busy summer with niece Faith’s wedding in Virginia Beach. The entire Alexander side of Rebekah’s family attended, and we all enjoyed the celebration.

It was also the perfect opportunity to meet Andrew’s Alicia. Andrew had proposed to Alicia the previous weekend, and the wedding is set for July 6th, in Midland, Michigan. Andrew met Alicia, who currently teaches music in Kiev, at a wedding in northern Italy. Like Andrew, Alicia loves to travel, grew up Presbyterian, and is passionate about her faith. Rebekah and I are so very happy.

JULY I travelled to North Carolina and then to West Virginia to speak at national conferences for Methodists (SoulFeast) and the Disciples of Christ (X-treme Faith). Both events were rich experiences of spiritual renewal, encouragement, and inspiration. The invitations coincided with the release of 10 Life-Charged Words, my fifth book in six years. I am still thrilled and humbled every time a new manuscript makes it to publication; and the opportunity to travel and speak about “the life-charged life,” reaching people throughout the United States, gives me more joy than I could ever have imagined. Invitations for 2013 thus far include events in Florida, Tennessee, Pennsylvania and Kansas.

AUGUST: Rebekah and I celebrated 33 years of this awesome, creative marriage adventure together; we watched David grow by leaps and bounds in Connecticut, via many hours of Skype; and we continued to wonder why we voluntarily live in a place of such oppressive heat and humidity!

But we do love our Florida home; and we’re truly blessed with the most wonderful church family imaginable; and we never cease to be amazed at how rich life is; and we’re beyond grateful that the opportunities we have to serve, learn and grow only increase as the years go by.

Our original plan was to schedule a New England fall vacation around David’s first birthday. Then, just as SEPTEMBER got going, the timing was suddenly right (or necessary!) for an escape to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee.

This turned out to be Scout’s first ever vacation, and she loved our cabin in the mountains. Rebekah and I rested, hiked, played lots of pool, hiked some more, consumed tons of East Tennessee barbecue, and then hiked again.

The Appalachian scenery was breathtaking, the time together was restorative, and the entire experience refreshing. Again, and like our adventures in the Middle East, it’s worth a couple of clicks to see the photographs in my original posts (September 12 and following).

September also marked the 30th anniversary of Rebekah’s ordination as a Minister of Word and Sacrament (teaching elder). I presented her with a Bible in church, and shared some heartfelt words that made the entire congregation cry.

OCTOBER was landscaping month at Maul Hall, as the heat finally eased up enough for some serious work in the garden. Rebekah approaches gardening the same way she leads the church; which means there’s always something going on that’s creative and new and challenging. Both church and garden are a constant work in progress, and if it doesn’t need praying over, weeding, pruning, planting, fertilizing and loving, then it’s probably not alive.

NOVEMBER, which included another landmark Heifer Market at Church, was another month crowded with commitments and events.

It did our hearts good to have Naomi, Craig, and David staying with us over Thanksgiving, capping a very busy  month. We lost count, but I think we had around 28 guests at the feast – family, friends and, like facebook, “friends of friends!” David got to stay an extra seven days and nights when his parents went on a cruise, and Rebekah and I remembered how completely all-consuming babies can be. But David – 13 months old at the time – is a happy, healthy baby, full with joy and curiosity. We had a ball.

Which leads to DECEMBER, and the end of one busy, difficult, wonderful, sad, promise-laden year. Today, Sunday December 23, is the 4th Sunday of Advent, and the focus (at least in my book) is on JOY.

Trying for that perfect Christmas picture!

So it is our wish, from the household and the hearts of Rebekah and Derek, that each one of you not only experience a Christmastime full with Hope, Peace, Love, and Joy, but that you enter the New Year both determined and equipped to live The Life-Charged Life.

As for us, we’re anticipating a wedding, Connecticut grandchild #2, and many more Great Adventures.

“From the fullness of God, we have all received grace upon grace” (John 1:16).

- DEREK

love, family, memories, and a few tears…

Hudson talking with his great-grandfather David

PHOTOGRAPH: This week my dad, David Maul, turned 84. He was born in London in 1928, “within the sound of Bow Bells” (Bow Bells are the bells of the church of St. Mary-le-Bow, Cheapside, London. To be “born within the sound of Bow Bells” is the traditional definition of a Cockney).

I’m not going to give a summary of my dad’s life here, except to say that 1928 is a long time ago. And, during that long time, dad has lived more than eight decades without wavering from his upstanding character, genuine faith, generous heart and faithful commitment to family. He is, without question, one of the best men I have ever known.

PARTY: So, yesterday evening, as many of the immediate family as possible gathered for a celebration. I was searching for the definitive birthday photo when I glanced up to see my niece Hannah’s son, Hudson, in earnest conversation with his great-grandpa. Bingo! That was it.

I have around ten phenomenal photos from the evening, but this one captures the moment. Can you see the light illuminating Hudson’s face? At first glance it seems to come from the open door, but I like to think he is capturing light from his great-grandpa David. And I believe the animation in Hudson’s expression is also being absorbed – like life from the touch of an angel – from the love and the attention of my dad.

1928 meets 2012. Can’t you see the beautiful interface of elderly and young? Can’t you feel the spirit of great-grandpa David’s life well-lived echoed in Hudson’s anticipation of the adventure to come?

What I see is love.

The Andrew and Hannah Roberts family, Saturday evening

BITTER-SWEET: I really miss my brother Geoff (Hudson’s “pop-pop”) on occasions like this. But I also feel the strength of the continuity of love that continues to cover us all.

See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! (1 John 3;1)

(This is my niece’s family. My brother’s daughter, Hannah, her husband, Andrew, and their children, Haley, Hudson, and foster-baby Hannah.)

In love, and because of love – DEREK