The world lost some wisdom last week. Maya Angelou died.
I want to become a wisdom gatherer. I love to interview people who can speak/write about their experiences in a reflective and universal way. They have nuggets of knowledge, perception, and hope for the rest of us struggling souls.
They are the Mayas of the world. The mentors we all hunger for – the astute Ammas and the insightful sages.
Glennon Melton wrote about this in Huffington Post last week in an article well worth reading called “Find Yourself a Maya.”
She concludes:
“Join the procession. Find yourself a Maya to follow and Be a Maya to the woman marching behind you.
‘When you learn, teach.’
That’s how Maya taught us to keep our mighty, sacred sisterhood rolling on.
And while you march, remember: ‘You are a child of God. Stand up straight.’ — Dr. Maya Angelou”
When our Texan friends visited last week, we drove them about an hour from here so Kathy could visit with her childhood friend. When we arrived at her friend’s house, another older lady was present. As her older friend talked, she weaved tales brimming of wisdom and humor. The more she shared about her life, the more I realized I was listening to a lady of vision. I was in the presence of a “Maya.”
This interaction made me even more hunger to interview women of wisdom and to discover their gems of knowledge. Just think of the people throughout history and from contemporary times, who would be wonderful resources and fountains of knowledge.
How do we find these mentors? What are their secrets? Their skills? Their attitudes? How has faith shaped their lives? Who helped them?
Maya and mentors – all called to me last week and I am going to seek the answer.
Who would you like to meet and talk to in your search for wisdom and understanding?
You know, I want to find myself a Maya. I’ve actually started to pray about this recently.
Praying you do find your Maya, Amy. my prayer also.
Hi Jeanie! What a great question. I think I’d like to meet Mother Teresa, or some of the women who started up a food pantry from nothing to a huge concern in Chicago. These are people who ‘get it done’ and don’t toot their horn about it. They understand needs, and try to fill them. That fills me with such admiration.
Blessings,
Ceil
Hi there, Ceil. So good to always see your name here. Mother Teresa is a good choice but I really love your group of women who started the food pantry. Not that Mother Teresa wasn’t real but somehow the unsung everyday, “get yer done” people are amazing too. Thanks for sharing that.
I really love Eleanor Roosevelt. There are also women of the bible I’d love to meet for a mentor — especially the woman who touched the hem of Jesus’ robe. I love the philosophy of “learn, teach.” I think it comes so naturally to us bloggers sometimes — it is our learning that gives us something to write about.
Eleanor Roosevelt is a great choice. I am thinking of writing a book using this idea. What do you think? could research women from history for bits of wisdom then interview present day women too.
One of my favorite stories is the one where the woman touches His hem. we have that in common. ( :
have a great week.
I think that is an amazing idea, Jean!!
thanks Jen,That is encouraging Please pray for discernment for me as I ponder this.
Jean,
Thankful for Maya’s life and wisdom. So glad you had a chance to be with a “Maya” last week. I have appreciated how you share your wisdom here 🙂
Hi Dolly, hope all is well with you. we just finished visiting with friends from Texas – busy fun time. glad to get back to routine though. What a experience that was to meet a “Maya” felt like holy ground.
have a great week.