Maya Angelou
I listened to Maya Angelou speaking on “Oprah’s Master Class” tonight. “Love liberates,” she said. What is a good teacher/friend/mother/lover? The one who loves enough to let go.
As a mother, I am beginning to learn to let go. Tomorrow is my daughter’s 9th birthday. She is now riding a 20″ bike instead of 16″. She is also brilliant, opinionated and loving. My son is 14 and joined her on my husband’s man-size bike. He is now an excellent musician, almost as tall as me, and is a kind-hearted “young man”. Next September he will be in high school. I am happy, excited for him. I am happy he will no longer be just around the corner, but to a a place a bit farther off, getting the best education he can (and meeting lots of new friends!). With Heather I have a little more time… 
But as a student, I still cling to the authority of teachers. To the “A grade”. I am getting better, admittedly. Tremendously wiser and more detached. This past year I have slowly, painfully learned I was wrong to sacrifice my present happiness for approval, acceptance. I had been well-trained to pursue, to excel at what I do. But the things I cherish most in my life now have nothing to do with that. It took me embarking on a new path to discover this for myself. It is time to grow up.
This “clinging to the guru” can sometimes take on an unpleasant scent – one of self-sacrifice and onerous intent. What/who am I doing this for? When you have signed a contract you usually know what is expected of each party. One may want to extend the contract to infinity and beyond. The other may want to move on. What is right?
At what point do you say, enough is enough? With compassion, I am ready to move on. I must walk my walk. Sing my Song!
Inspired by Maya’s words, I wrote these power statements:
Even as they try to hold me,
I let go.
I am not bound to anyone
I already belong.
There is no separation, lack or need
In the darkness they will be freed.
No one has the power to bind me ever again
Today I walk in peace.
Anyone who tries to bind you is working from the ego, not love. This is what Maya Angelou said. And I know this. But I also know, no matter who you are dealing with (teacher/friend/student); if one is in pain or spent, their only need is compassion, not rejection. Letting go in love is the answer.
I have learned this lesson: “I have everything. I can afford to be generous.”
Somehow, somewhere, I have become the teacher.
Amen.
