Great
Souls
“...And
when great souls die,
after
a period peace blooms,
slowly
and always
irregularly.
Spaces fill
with
a kind of
soothing
electric vibration.
Our
senses, restored, never
to
be the same, whisper to us.
They
existed. They existed.
We
can be. Be and be
better.
For they existed.”
Maya
Angelou “When Great Trees Fall”
Thus
reads the last verse of Maya Angelou's poem, When Great Trees
Fall. How much her voice and her presence will be missed on
planet Earth. This poem is only one potent example of an impressive
body of work. It was read at the Memorial Service for Mary Virginia
Brown yesterday—another great soul, who leaves behind a lifetime
contribution to humanity. People like Dr. Angelou, and Mary Virginia
make us think, and think deeply about what is worthy of thought. Mary
Virginia told me once, long ago, “Never write anything unless you
have to.” On the surface, that seems like a simple, off-hand
remark, or a kind of fatalistic statement. But over the years I have
found it to be a beacon of stability. It helps me decipher what is
important. It brought me back to this blog after I had decided with
my head to stop writing it. I discovered that I was not so much writing for
you, the reader, though I appreciate your presence here, but because I need to write—for my own heart and
soul.
I'll
bet you know some great souls—some who are still here. I encourage
you to spend time with them, learn from them, soak up what they have
to teach. They stand as models of life well-lived; lives that served
not just themselves, but all of humanity. We are richer because they existed.
In
the Spirit,
Jane
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