Maya Angelou – Being a gift unto others #rise

I fed upon her words

by Stan Faryna

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Maya Angelou, Still I Rise

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She stood shoulders above

She was no god, priestess, queen, diplomat nor elected official, but Maya Angelou exercised the greatest of all powers in creation. She could speak a word and it was done. She was blessed from above like few others. I may be mistaken but I understood her power came by faith and grace.

I also understood that this gentle woman moved mountains with her words. She spoke to stones and they beat again as hearts – even if only for a moment.

Ordinarily, I would join the world in it’s gentle wish for rest for a beloved. But I can not say RIP Maya Angelou. Do not misunderstand me, I have the greatest respect for the woman. Instead, my heart shouts out in joy – RISE HIGHER. RISE UNTO THE GLORY! And I do not believe there is rest in the glory. But greater works. Like the works of stars. Works that never end. Because without their undying light, darkness would overcome.

Michael Jackson

I remember her eulogy for Michael Jackson, “We had him.” I remember how she perfectly captured the memory of the king of pop – that tragic, tortured, brave-hearted hero of our time.

“His hat, aslant over his brow, and took a pose on his toes for all of us.”

I do not know if poets will capture Maya Angelou as she captured Michael Jackson with words that memorialize a man like no stone or gold could ever have done.

How shall we rise?

I do not know if it can be said of her that we had her. Oh, please, please do not misunderstand me. She gave herself to us. She gave us fire, wind, water, air and earth. She told us to unfold our unseen wings. But only those who had ears to listen, heard her. Only those who had eyes to see, saw Maya Angelou. Only those who had ears, heard.

Though I am not a woman or African American. I rose upon her words. And still I rise. She spoke to us all.

Though I am not a woman, she reminded me that I am phenomenal, that my smile shines like the sun and, most of all, that my head, heart and spirit shall not be oppressed by demonic contempt and conceits.

Be a gift unto others

Maya Angelou was gift unto us. That is her greatest gift; it goes beyond the beating of words. She embodied a rare and precious wisdom.

Our gifts are not given for us to enjoy alone, recklessly or stupidly. We were created to be gifts unto each other. This is how we rise. We rise, together.

 

Stan Faryna
28 May 2014
Fairfax, Virginia

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Happy Birthday to @TheJackB

 

by Stan Faryna

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Daft Punk, Get Lucky

 

God bless you

You may know him by another name. Or several. Some call him Jack. Others, Mr. Steiner. And yet others, Josh. I have always thought of him as Ajax – the giant from Homer’s Iliad. It’s his birthday today.

Happy Birthday, Ajax.

Wishing Ajax a happy birthday reminds me of all those whose birthdays for which I did not offer a shout out. I regret my failure. I repent of it and I wholeheartedly apologize if you who ever wondered if my silence signaled a lack of affection. I do not have a good track record for remembering birthdays but I can say boldly and earnestly that my memory does not speak for the treasury and intentions of my heart.

Although I have little to offer as a way of gift to Ajax or you, I can start by mentioning some blog posts that I’ve enjoyed. Here’s just a sample of the blogging of Jack Steiner:

What Do Father’s Fear?

What Does The Reflection In The Mirror Look Like

Time Travel and Terms Of Service

 

Do your words need healing?

In a recent post, Jack bemoans the quiet and unenthusiastic state of bloggery – lackluster traffic, dwindling comments and, ultimately, the quixotic and unrealistic expectations that lead to disappointment and, sometimes, despair. Jack is not mistaken in his perceptions of the death rattles of the blogosphere. Podcasting is where it’s act.

But Jack also once said, “just write.”

And that’s what we bloggers should and must do – write. Oh – not with a sense of a cavalier and professional schedule and punctuality. Not with undaunted, rash words! Not with the wrong words!

What shall we write? Let us not write evil or incite it by our writing. And let us not tell lies.

The Book of Proverbs offers some insight in this regard.

A wholesome tongue is a tree of life but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit.
Proverbs 15:4

He who guards his mouth and his tongue keeps himself from calamity.
Proverbs 21:23

He who guards his lips guards his soul, but he who speaks rashly will come to ruin.
Proverbs 13:3

 

Words without limits

Words without limits can be like unsheathed daggers as much as they can be dandelion spores carrying our wishes to the eager and benevolent ears of God. Like a flashing red strobe light on the dashboard of a missile launch station as often as they may remind us of the sweet, clovey fragrance of a field of blooming dianthus.

Therefore, we must wield our words, gently, joyfully and with care and good will – equal to the enthusiasm with which we want to speak and share. Our words must be written and spoken with love.

It’s not easy. Because our words speak our heart. And, sometimes, there is much darkness in our hearts.

Fortunately for us, our hearts can be healed by our own words. It begins when we bless each other. This is where love begins.

 

Stan Faryna
9 May 2014
Fairfax, Virginia