The Angel Maya

Photo by Kris Connor/Getty Images

May 28, 2014.

I had planned a different reflection for today, but I just heard the sad news that Maya Angelou has passed away, and I must pause now to honor her.

For me, Maya is an absolute goddess, and has inspired me time and time again with her soulful words, both written and spoken.  She is that rarest of rare soul: someone who is poet, philosopher, and spiritual guru all in one.  In a time when the world has been spinning faster and faster, and change has been coming quicker than we can even track, Maya spoke with a purpose, and she lived for a reason.

Her most lauded poem, Caged Bird, spoke to us all in a hundred thousand myriad ways.  It spoke of our fears and our hopes, our dreams and our sorrows:

The caged bird sings   

with a fearful trill   

of things unknown   

but longed for still   

and his tune is heard   

on the distant hill   

for the caged bird   

sings of freedom.

Be sure to read the whole poem here if you haven't: 

http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/178948

A force has left our planet today, at least in physical form.  The cage she loved here is no more, and now she flaps her wings to freedom.  Our world is a sadder place today, but our lives are forever enriched by the richness she gave us.  She gave us her words forever, and her words will continue to inspire us always, but today, we cry.

We cry for our loss, but we sing an alleluia for her freedom.  We thank God for the gifts she gave us.  Not just the gift of her writing, or the gift of her words, but the gift of her soul as well.  She could have done anything with her life once she gained her fame, but all she kept doing was giving, loving, praising, singing, and then giving again some more.

Every day from here on in, we are forever blessed to have had the Angel Maya walk among us for a while.  And every day from here on in, we are forever dressed with the smile she helped us find.  Maya, we love you.  We love your words, yes, of course, but more than any constructs of your mouth or pen, we love the soul you were here, and the soul you will always be!  May all the angels praise you for sharing your soul so lovingly with this planet through some very difficult times.  And may God now hold your hand through the green pastures of forever love, forever peace, and forever freedom!