Remembering Kayla Mueller
By Barbara Mayer
(February 11, 2015)
There is a saying in Zen that we keep becoming what we always were. Some of us take a long lifetime to reach any potential we may have, and some people die with a good part of their soul songs still unheard.
Then there is Kayla Mueller. As the sad news that this daughter of Arizona and our neighbor Prescott has lost her life as a captive in the savage chaos of rebels against humanity itself, we can now take heart that this young woman’s beautiful soul song is being heard with great clarity in every part of this planet. At a young age she had already understood that spending one’s life responding to the cries of the world is the very epitome of highest human endeavor. She had learned to follow her heart. Through her tireless dedication to ease the cries of the suffering and marginalized, she also showed us the possibilities of a new way of being — living with compassion and inclusion of all.
Just a few days ago I was in Prescott, doing what many people do – having lunch at the Texas Steak House and shopping for special treats at Trader Joe’s. Now I cannot help but contrast the simple joys I shared there with my friends on “the other side of the mountain” – with what those last days of Kayla Mueller’s life were like. She was in the last steps of her own journey, about to become a martyr for the highest levels of humanity and human consciousness itself.
Also, in a time when many older people look askance at the so-called Millenials – 18-34 year olds, 26 year old Kayla and her sacrifice, as well as her dedication to bettering the true spirit of humanity, reminds us age has nothing to do with achieving one’s highest human and spiritual potential.
As we deeply mourn the death of this courageous and compassionate young woman, we celebrate her unselfish witness to basic human truth. We in Sedona and the Verde Valley extend our condolence to Kayla’s family and friends. We also honor this young woman who truly heard the cries of the world and responded to them wholeheartedly with her actions and literally with her own life energy.
Kayla Mueller has left us with her beautiful soul song echoing full and strongly in our memories and in our hearts. We will not forget her.
Rev. Barbara Mayer is a poet, author and interfaith/interspiritual minister who lives, writes and shares the Spirit in Sedona, Arizona.