Middle-Pause Pump-Priming Prompt

A Breathlessly Beautiful Place for the Singing of Angels

Glowing in the bright white light of beauty and meaning

“There must be always remaining in everyone’s life some place for the singing of angels.” ~ Howard Thurman

A place for the singing of angels? Really?

Yes, your life, and yes, really. We’re serious. And whatever blessings that phrase evokes in you, we believe you deserve. And furthermore, we ask:

Are you ready for something extraordinary?

No matter our personal beliefs and traditions, the holidays are a time set apart from the ordinary to make room for something extraordinary.

That something extraordinary could be Mary squatting in dirty, smelly straw and rising again with the Son of God in her arms.

That something extraordinary could be an act of grace in our lives — the blessing unearned and undeserved, but yet it comes and blesses us with health, harmony, or healing anyway.

That something extraordinary could be an act of grace in the world. A break in the fighting long enough for warring factions to ask themselves why are we fighting, anyway? Is killing innocent children really the best way to settle our disputes? Is this what we want as our legacy for future generations?

Take a moment to reflect on the word itself.

Extraordinary means possessing some extremely good or special quality. Synonyms include: amazing, astonishing, astounding, exceptional, fantastic, and incredible.

2024 is a blank slate full of potential.

We can give it any meaning we choose. We can call it happy, healthy, and/or hilarious. But why not call it and make it extraordinary?

So rather than just ask about your resolutions, goals, and intentions, we’re asking you to reflect on the ways 2024 can and will be extraordinary.

As part of your reflection, please enjoy the quote in its poetic entirety from Rev. Dr. Thurman:

“There must be always remaining in everyone’s life some place for the singing of angels, some place for that which in itself is breathlessly beautiful and, by an inherent prerogative, throws all the rest of life into a new and creative relatedness, something that gathers up in itself all the freshest of experience from drab to commonplace areas of living and glows in on bright white light of penetrating beauty and meaning — then passes.

“The commonplace is shot through with new glory; old burdens become lighter; deep and ancient wounds lose much of their old, old hurting. A crown is placed over our heads that for the rest of our lives we are trying to grow tall enough to wear. Despite all the crassness of life, despite all the hardness of life, despite all the harsh discords of life, life is saved by the singing of angels.” ~ Howard Thurman from The Mood of Christmas and Other Celebrations

Who was Dr. Thurman, anyway?

Howard Washington Thurman (November 18, 1899 — April 10, 1981) was an African-American philosopher, mystic, author, educator and civil rights leader. His theology of radical non-violence influenced many of the leaders he mentored, including Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Along with Alfred Fisk, he co-founded the first major interracial, interdenominational church in the United States, the Church for the Fellowship of All Peoples. It’s still going strong in San Francisco.

Okay, now for this week’s Middle-Pause Pump-Priming Prompt:

In 2024, how will you make a place for the singing of angels — i.e. room in your life for something extraordinary? And what might that something be?

So there are two parts to the question — making the space for — and the extraordinary thing, or being, or process itself.

You may answer either one, but we hope you reflect on both of them and share the results of your reflections with us here.

If there are no objections, I’ll share first.

Okay, hearing no objections, here I go:

This is deep, y’all. Instead of spitting out losing weight and decluttering, I’ve got to get still and quiet and allow myself to settle into the question. Percolate on it, and see what surfaces. I’ll take a moment to do just that now…

The first thing that comes to mind for me is mystical wisdom.

I’ve long wanted to learn more about the world’s saints and mystics, especially those of the female persuasion. Like St. Hildegard of Bingen, and St. Teresa of Avila. And of course, the much beloved, Black Madonna.

But not just these women calling to me from times long past.

But more contemporary saints and mystics as well. Mother Theresa of Calcutta. Amma, the hugging saint. Etty Hillesum (1914–1943), who died in the Holocaust. Agnes Sanford, who healed people with the Light of God in her heart.

Something tells me I can’t imbue myself in the lives of these women and not be touched and transformed in some way. When I envelop myself in their enduring Light, I expect to be lit up myself. With inspiration, yes, but perhaps also with some form of cleansing and/or healing.

In fact, I plan to consciously open myself to whatever gifts each one of them has for me as I read about them, reflect on what I read, and recite their words and prayers out loud. Yes, this is a study. But it’s also a spiritual practice.

And that bit about the singing of angels?

Yes, it’s a metaphor, but I plan to make space for it literally. Or close to it. I will ask Google to find YouTube videos of Hildegard of Bingen’s angelic harmonies and play them while I meditate and reflect.

And I will listen to them tonight as 2023 gives way to 2024.

So that’s my vision and plan. Now it’s your turn.

Again the Pump-Priming Prompt: In 2024, how will you make a place for the singing of angels — i.e. room in your life for something extraordinary? And what might that something be?

Don’t leave me hanging out here all by my lonesome. Join me in naming and claiming something extraordinary for you and your life, too.

What will that be? We’re excited to find out and look forward to hearing from several of you.

Have a happy, healthy, and extraordinary new year!

Marilyn Flower’s a sacred fool who writes every day — fiction, poetry, and blogs — inspired by a process called SoulCollage®. She’s the author of Creative Blogging and Bucket Listers: Get Your Brave On. Follow her Sacred Foolishness or SoulCollage® for Writers, and Stay in touch!