At the Quaker meeting for worship at the Old Furnace, Maggie focused on positive images. Tried thinking of herself as the foremost molecule at the crest of a great curling wave. She thought of the forces gathered behind her, the human tide that had brought her to this point, that had made this detour backwards in time. She tried to think of those forces as irresistible, imagined herself as gathering strength from the consensus that had sent her back, saw herself as the expression of that purpose and power. She had asked Erzulie once if she believed in destiny.
Destiny is one of the most abused words in the English language.
My ancestors were slaves because somebody insisted it was their destiny. Your great grandfather died in Auschwitz because somebody said it was his destiny. Our planet was brought to ruin in the belief that it was Man's destiny to conquer Nature. Maggie was startled by her vehemence. Maggie had just been admiring Erzulie's face, her dark skin refracting light from the yellow umbrella.