Yesterday the world learned of the death of Maya Angelou.  I have to admit that I have not followed her writings while she was living.  But upon her death I have read quoted segments from various things she wrote.

Two of the quotes I read I am posting below:

“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”  – Interview for Beautifully Said Magazine (2012)

“You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them.”  – Excerpted from Letter to My Daughter, a book of essays (2009)

These quotes I have chosen I selected because they describe the mindset you need to have to be effective as a chaplain.  Chaplains deal with people and their feelings, often at emotionally difficult periods in their lives.  Chaplains also attempt to encourage people.  Helping people accept that not everything is in our control is a task we encounter frequently.

Reading Maya’s quotes has reminded me of my calling as a Chaplain.  It also reminds me of my calling as a Christian because though I do these things in my employment, I also practice them as part of my daily walk with Christ in all the places that I find myself.

Maya gives us good advice.  I hope we can honor her contribution to the world by practicing these two precepts as often as possible.