Glass To Be Treated Differently Poem by Margaret Alice

When I squirm and complain, pointing out the
pain in trying to follow rules of integrity and
self-discipline, striving for self-management

The discipline to set rules for yourself and to
follow through in whatever you do and working
in obscurity as a test for personal integrity

Acting with relentless honesty in all situations –
you don’t understand, you find Maxwell a kindred
spirit while I’m stumbling behind

Faltering between rules and regulations, you strictly
recommend to execute duty with Maxwellian leadership
spirit; but I’m more like Alice in Wonderland*

“I always give myself some very good advice” – aiming
for self-improvement above self-promotion, searching
for wisdom, worth much more than precious jewels

Where knowledge and instruction mean more than gold
and silver – “but I very seldom follow it; ” I have to read light
fiction, can’t concentrate on boring diction

Though Maxwell teaches listening is showing respect, if the
conversation fails to instruct or entertain, I do not gain, boring,
unspiritual documents drive me round the bend

No matter how much integrity’s rules have to say about sticking
to the rule of doing your best; my brain refuses to produce when
motivated by fear for negative effects

While bright inspiration leads me on dreamy paths diverging far
from the cold air of duty – I’m not Maxwellian leadership material,
I’m not made from cold steel unbending in self-discipline

My cube – the symbol of the self-image – is made from crystal
clear glass, it is fragile and acts like a prism, breaking up white
light into its constituents; while your cube is made of steel

Strong, hard, unbreakable – and you expect me to follow your
example as if I were made of steel also – but I’m not, glass
needs to be treated differently…

John C. Maxwell “The Maxwell Daily Reader” Thomas Nelson 2007
pp.235 – 261

* Walt Disney “Alice In Wonderland”