Surely there have been some thoruoghly beautiful individuals to have walked this earth. Not all take hold of that beauty and grace the world with its freshness. No not all have the courage to rise from the tragedy that we all at some point face, and not only rise, ...but thrive.
This is the difference between truly beautiful people and the truly beautiful who unleash their prodigious potential. Maya Angelou was one of those people.
One of my favorite quotes of hers is:
"If you are always trying to be normal, you will never know how amazing you can be."
One of the great deceptions on this earth is that there is a rigid and ordinary mold in which we each ought to fit. This concept leads us to devalue the unique beauty that God made within your mother's womb. It can even lead us to sin as we make split and rash decisions in order not to "stand out" too much.
As I have watched interviews and performances of Dr. Angelou (who by the way never went to college to receive her over 30 honorary degrees), I cannot help but to notice:
Her tone of voice, the rhythym in which she spoke, her frankness, her wit, her wisdom...It's just there, certainly not average, a bit odd even. But I gather that it came with years of practicing the art of forsaking this notion of normality; and it is the embracing of her gifts, and choosing not to allow them to grow stale....but allowing them to make a return
She understood that there is tragedy, suffering and death. Because of this she didn't take her time here lightly. She knew she was apart of a bigger and greater story...
"Leaving behind nights of terror and fear
I rise
Into a daybreak that’s wondrously clear
I rise
Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave,
I am the dream and the hope of the slave.
I rise
I rise
I rise."
-Maya Angelou
She is going to be greatly missed. How bitter-sweet the news.
Be bold and courageous in this life!...that the weight of greatness displayed may be ascribed to it's Creator,...God, Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of man, ...female and male in His own image.
