Why do I love Howard Thurman? I remember hearing him preach when I was young and he was powerful, he inspired my spirit and moved my soul. Many years have passed, and I return again to his writings and find new and deeper meaning. I know I am not unique in my admiration, but I love Howard Thurman.
Howard Thurman wrote:
"There must be always remaining in every life some place for the singing of angels, some place for that which in itself is breathlessly beautiful and - by an inherent prerogative, throwing all the rest of life into a new and and creative relatedness-something that gathers up in itself all the freshets of experience from drab and commonplace areas of living and glows in one bright 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 the harsh discords of life, life is saved by the singing of angels."
Ah, I remember Dr. Thurman well as I was fortunate to be a student at Boston U. while he was Dean of the Chapel. Such an influence!