The “Still I Rise” Mentality

Many people are familiar with the poem Still I Rise written by one of the greatest poets, Maya Angelou. It is indeed one of her most popular pieces. From older generations who cherish it for its true meaning, to children all over the world reciting it in their classrooms and schools plays, this piece has found its way through the heart of history flowing from the tongues of many who may not even know who Maya Angelou is. Simply put, it’s the message. It speaks to the oppression of a people, who speak back with confidence saying, “Still I Rise.” But while this poem has only been around since 1978, doesn’t this sound like the message Christ has been trying to emphasize to His people for 2010 years? He speaks this not to a race, not to a gender, not to a class, but to His people as one.
The body of Christ lacks this “Still I Rise” Mentality. I’ve come to find that no matter how hard we say we go for Christ, it doesn’t take much to get us worried, anxious, or flustered. Oh, how we relinquish our peace so easily! Our prayer requests seem to exceed our praise reports, and whenever someone asks us how we are doing, our responses seem uncertain and begin with sayings like “under the circumstances…” As followers of the one true God who has different names to prove He is all that we need Him to be, why do we live below our means? Why do we seem so oppressed and much worse off than those of the world? To be honest, if I was a non-believer, I’m not so sure I would be so pressed to come follow the God that we speak so highly of. As one, we are not the representation that Christ intended. I mean, granted we are going to have some bad days. Think about it, the enemy hates each one of us personally and has been on a mission to destroy mankind since creation. The Bible itself never said that the weapon wouldn’t be formed…but it did, however, say that the formed weapon would not prosper! (Isaiah 54:17) One of my favorite passages in the bible comes from 2 Corinthians chapter 4. It talks about us as followers of Christ being hard pressed but not crushed. Perplexed but not in despair. Persecuted but not abandoned. Struck down but not destroyed. In other words, “STILL WE RISE!”




We must go through life with a “Still I Rise Mentality.” We must walk boldly in the confidence that comes with having a relationship with the father because we are called to be the salt and light of the world. We are called to be the examples, and in all of the above we are More than conquerors. So rise. Rise above every trial and tribulation, every disappointment and failure, every heartbreak, headache, and anything else the enemy throws to knock you off your square. Psalm 34:19 states that many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all! I hope the next time you read Maya Angelou’s poem, it speaks to a different side of you.






Still I Rise






You may write me down in history


With your bitter, twisted lies,


You may trod me in the very dirt


But still, like dust, I'll rise.






Does my sassiness upset you?


Why are you beset with gloom?


'Cause I walk like I've got oil wells


Pumping in my living room.






Just like moons and like suns,


With the certainty of tides,


Just like hopes springing high,


Still I'll rise.






Did you want to see me broken?


Bowed head and lowered eyes?


Shoulders falling down like teardrops.


Weakened by my soulful cries.






Does my haughtiness offend you?


Don't you take it awful hard


'Cause I laugh like I've got gold mines


Diggin' in my own back yard.






You may shoot me with your words,


You may cut me with your eyes,


You may kill me with your hatefulness,


But still, like air, I'll rise.






Does my sexiness upset you?


Does it come as a surprise


That I dance like I've got diamonds


At the meeting of my thighs?






Out of the huts of history's shame


I rise


Up from a past that's rooted in pain


I rise


I'm a black ocean, leaping and wide,


Welling and swelling I bear in the tide.


Leaving behind nights of terror and fear


I rise


Into a daybreak that's wondrously clear


I rise


Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave,


I am the dream and the hope of the slave.


I rise


I rise


I rise.






~Maya Angelou


 
 
Dove Sister Dontaleisha Smith