As we come closer to the conclusion of another calendar year and move towards the ending of the decade with 2019 up next and 2020 just around the corner, reflection and recognition becomes increasingly important. That expression “Time flies” seems more and more relevant the older we get. Perhaps it’s a function of aging to make people of a certain generation both nostalgic for days gone by and, acutely, aware of exactly how old we are and how far we’ve actually come. Or, perhaps it’s because the loss of loved ones, friends and icons, begins to occur with exponential frequency and gatherings to celebrate Life and Legacy become reluctant reunions and, sometimes, long overdue reconciliations or reconnections. Together with friends and loved ones we are bound by a common affection, respect and acknowledgement in shared community and the loss of someone important to us reminds us all of the central significance that community has in our lives.
The recent death of Ntozake Shange, the author of the historic play “For Colored Girls who have Considered Suicide/when the rainbow is enuf” last month is a personal example of the intersections of grief, joy, reconnection and celebration. Ntozake Shange changed the face of the American Theatre when her play “For Colored Girls…” went to Broadway and the poet/playwright made history in 1976 as only the second African American woman author to be produced on the Broadway stage. Lorraine Hansberry’s award winning “A Raisin in the Sun” was the first in 1960. Ntozake’s seminal work won several awards including the Obie Award, Outer Critics Circle Award and the Audelco Award and launched the careers of so many “colored girls” (this author included) who became a part of the productions of “For Colored Girls…” not only in New York but all over the world on the National and International Tours and a plethora of many more staged productions all over the country for years to come. The sense of gratitude shared by all of those gathered together to celebrate the Life and the Legacy of Ntozake Shange was palpable. “She who walks like a Lion and brings her own things,” which is what Ntozake Shange’s name means, was celebrated in song, poetry, tributes and spontaneous dance. Many tears were shed but mostly in grateful adoration of a life well lived and the legacy we had all inherited by virtue of our various intersections with Ntozake Shange.
Time does indeed fly and none of us really knows how much time we have to make our impact, to fulfill our purpose, to share our love and lives with one another. What we DO KNOW is that in the end it always feels like there was not enough time. This irrefutable truth should encourage us to make the most of the time we do have each and every day. In this season of Thanks and Giving, let us take stock of the blessings we have and share our blessings as best we can with one another. Time continues on with or without us and we all need to take the time to acknowledge with gratitude those who have truly impacted our lives, and then we need to look to where we can have a similar impact on other people’s lives while we still have the time to do so. #HappyThanksgiving
