I Have a Dream

As many of you know, we just returned from a trip to Arkansas and Texas. The timing of the trip was designed to correspond with the installation and dedication of a scuplture by my uncle, Jack Maxwell, on the campus of Abilene Christian University. It is an incredible piece that reflects the account in Genesis 28 of Jacob's dream about a ladder reaching to heaven with angels asending and descending. Jack's interpretation stands 32 feet tall and it magnificent. As you might imagine, a work of this magnitude attracted lots of attention on campus and off.

Among many very interesting facts and symbolism present in the piece, I found this particularly poignant. At the end of Genesis 28, Jacob exclaims that he will give 10% of what he owns to the Lord's work. Jack spent the past five years working on this piece, which represents 10% of his fifty years.

On the back side of the sculpture, the limestone rock forms a "negative space" cross. Literally, the placement reveals the shape of a cross between the rocks. He really did think of everything! On Saturday night, the full moon could be seen through the cross.

If you are not familiar with the work of Jack and Jill Maxwell, you really should check out their many talents at www.pailofwater.com, a site put together by my cousin, an equally talented cinematographer and photographer, Matt Maxwell (whose likeness has permanently captured as the second angel form the top).