With Nelson Mandela’s passing, at the age of 95, the world lost a great inspiration. You can see how many lives he touched by the outpouring of testimonials and loving tributes. I feel a call to share how he touched mine as well.
I never met Nelson Mandela or saw him speak in person, but I’ve been inspired each time I watched him on TV. He spoke so eloquently about life and living on this planet together in harmony; peacefully. What truly amazes me is his will and determination. It overwhelms me to think he spent 27 years in prison, almost one third of his life on this earth, yet he was not a bitter man. He took full advantage of each day he was given.
While in prison, Mandela and his fellow political prisoners planned for a future South Africa that did away with Apartheid and embraced equality. His time on Robben Island, the prison where he spent 18 of his years in exile, much of it spent in hard labor, would become like a university. Prisoners were eventually allowed books and were able to take classes. Mandela spent time on improving himself; educating himself. He was preparing to eventually lead a nation.
Mandela spent 27 years in prison physically, but he did not succumb to mental imprisonment. He was too strong-willed to let that happen. I can’t help but think of the mental prisons we create for ourselves. We often live in the past. We never get beyond a wrong done to us or a wrong we did to someone else. We get stuck. What we need is the strength to move into a new vision. The kind of strength Mandela possessed.
We can look at Mandela’s inspiring example of how to lead a life that embraces peace and tolerance; not only for others, but for ourselves as well. We can lead the life we were meant to live; if we are determined enough we can create it.
Thank you, Nelson Mandela, for this beautiful lesson.
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