In the book How Strong Women Pray
Bonnie’s Introduction
In 1955, Maya Angelou, who would eventually become a poet, educator, historian, author, actress, playwright, civil rights activist, producer and director, was in a vocal class with Frederick Wilkerson, reading a passage out loud to the group assembled there. She had been a dancer all her life and would later become famous as the author of I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings and the Inaugural Poet for the United States in 1993. But at this point, she was still very young and was taking vocal lessons to enhance her career as a dancer.
Wilkerson called himself a “vocal technician.” He worked with Roberta Flack and many famous opera singers. Maya was friends with “Wilkie,” and he lived in her house. Once a month, he gathered his students together to read from Lessons in Truth by Emile Cady, a unit study in practical Christianity from the Unity Church.
She was reading along and came to, “God loves me.”
“Read that again,” said Wilkie.
“God loves me,” she said.
“Read it again,” he said to her. And she began to feel tense. She and Wilkie were the only Black people there. She was young and he had other students who were serious singers, and they were all White and older. She felt he was making her look foolish in her own house in front of these sophisticated Whites.
He said, “Read it again. Read it again.”
Finally she shouted it defiantly, “GOD…LOVES…ME!”
Maya’s Words
I heard Him. In that instant in my life I knew that I was a child of God…and knowing it then, I know it all the time, fresh. Just saying it makes me thrill, in the classic sense. I mean, my body—Wheeew!
At that moment, I had to leave the room. I started weeping…with the knowledge of it. And I could do it again right now. That which made the seas and mountains, made stars and moons, and goldfish…That loves me?!!
It was a freedom…a relief…a license to try to do all the good in the world. If That loves me, then I can do anything good. You see?
Now I pray all the time. I pray when I’m walking from here to over to the chair. I pray at any time…when something crosses my mind, I have a prayer, Mostly I’m thankful: Thanking God for God, thanking God for Jesus, and thanking Jesus for Jesus. I am thankful for the idea of love, the idea of forgiveness, and the offering of peace and joy two thousand years ago.
If I could go back to when I was 20 years old and teach myself something about prayer, I would just tell myself to be more grateful. Be even more grateful.
I know that at 20 I didn’t know very much. I knew that I was blessed, but not enough to know that I didn’t know very much. I didn’t know I knew what I knew. But I am a good student. I do listen. I would like to be more grateful today than I was yesterday.
So now, I don’t even say what I’m thankful for, unless something’s sticking in my head like some thorns on a rose. I’ll think, “Hmm, God did that too.” But generally, I just say, “Thank You. Thank You. Thank You. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures. He restoreth my soul. Thank You.”
I was asked to write a piece, come to the Bush White House, and participate in the lighting of the national Christmas tree. I wrote a piece called “Amazing Peace.” I knew I was taking the idea of peace into the war zone.
I prayed long ago, If the Lord wants somebody nearby, send me. I said that and I can’t take it back. So I wrote “Amazing Peace” with more than a passing interest and went to the White House to be with President Bush:
Amazing Peace
In our joy, we think we hear a whisper.
At first it is too soft. Then only half heard.We listen carefully as it gathers strength.We hear a sweetness.The word is Peace.
It is loud now.Louder than the explosion of bombs. We tremble at the sound. We are thrilled by its presence.It is what we have hungered for.Not just the absence of war.
But true Peace.
A harmony of spirit, and comfort of courtesies.Security for our beloveds and their beloveds.
We, Angels and Mortals, Believers and Nonbelievers, Look heavenward and speak the word aloud.
Peace.
We look at each other, then into ourselves,And we say without shyness or apology or hesitation:
Peace, My Brother.
Peace, My Sister.
Peace, My Soul.
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