As you have probably already heard Nelson Mandela has passed away at the age of 95. I am not going to try and give you a full biography of his amazing life and career, I will leave that to the proper biographers. Instead, I will just give you a few thoughts from a person who is an ordinary, sometimes activist who is blessed enough to be surrounded by good people who want to make the world a better place.
I had the privilege of studying the legacy of Apartheid in Cape Town a few years ago. What consistently struck me was while I admired the heroism of Mandela and the others who led the resistance in South Africa, I came to admire even more the regular people who took up his mantle and fought to bring justice to their own communities. I met South Africans of every stripe and status who enthusiastically listened Mandela’s call to struggle for a better world, and dedicated their lives to the high ideals that we always hear can never be achieved. It was always humbling to be in their presence.
What made Mandela so remarkable was not only could he find the balance between seeking justice for victims and finding forgiveness for perpetrators, but that he was able to teach people around the world about the importance of finding ways to reconcile. Before Mandela these kinds of conflicts generally ended with the usual violent retribution that strips so many of us of our humanity. Now, at least sometimes, we try a different path. It doesn’t always work, but the human family has another option.
I feel like the best way to remember to Mr. Mandela is to reflect on some of his own words. If anyone taught that ideas mattered, it was Madiba. Here are some things we would all be best to keep in our hearts every day.
For to be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.
As I walked out the door toward the gate that would lead to my freedom, I knew if I didn’t leave my bitterness and hatred behind, I’d still be in prison.
If you want to make peace with your enemy, you have to work with your enemy. Then he becomes your partner.
And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.
I am fundamentally an optimist. Whether that comes from nature or nurture, I cannot say. Part of being optimistic is keeping one’s head pointed toward the sun, one’s feet moving forward. There were many dark moments when my faith in humanity was sorely tested, but I would not and could not give myself up to despair. That way lays defeat and death.
I have walked that long road to freedom. I have tried not to falter; I have made missteps along the way. But I have discovered the secret that after climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are many more hills to climb. I have taken a moment here to rest, to steal a view of the glorious vista that surrounds me, to look back on the distance I have come. But I can only rest for a moment, for with freedom come responsibilities, and I dare not linger, for my long walk is not ended.
Ultimately, what Mandela taught us was that cynicism and despair are a criminal luxury in a world where many of our brothers and sisters are hungry, deprived, and without justice. As he passes, he leaves behind an anxious country and world facing difficult challenges. He has shown us the path. We would be wise to start the walk down it.
Image via Wikipedia. Read the description, it’s worth it.
You can still contribute to Nelson Mandela’s work. Please check out Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory.
