Nelson Mandela: Gaze-Raiser (Peter A. Black)

The following piece is a slightly  modified edition of a post I placed on Raise Your Gaze a couple of days ago. Raise Your Gaze

The world is abuzz with the news of Nelson Mandela’s death and awash with accolades of praise and admiration. The gaze of multiplied millions – from child to the aged – has been elevated in his honour.

This is well-deserved, of course, in view of his tremendous role at enormous personal cost in bringing to an end the apartheid system of oppressive government by the white minority in South Africa, and its replacement with a more equitable democracy.

He was the first foreign leader to be made an honorary citizen of Canada and the first foreigner to be named an honorary Companion of the Order of Canada.

Mandela graciously stood alongside the then South African President F.W. de Klerk when they were each awarded the Nobel Peace Prize on December 10, 1993, although de Klerk was in part responsible for Mandela’s incarceration.

 

In 1994 Mandela was elected President.

 

Gaze-Raising Image

Photo courtesy CBC.ca
I call this his 'signature' smile!

For me, an enduring visual image of him is of a tall, elderly statesmanlike figure who, while physically frail, presented himself serene and poised, his demeanor exhibiting an inner strength. He spoke with authority and conviction.

Despite his great age and the rigours of his 27 years in prison, involving hard labour that resulted in lung damage, his countenance was youthful and displayed his radiant signature smile.

He appeared rested and at peace within his person; his manner gracious.

As I compared photographs of his younger, pre-prison years, it seemed to me that Mandela appeared more serious then, and I fancied that he didn’t smile as much. Something had changed. Perhaps the greatest change was in himself – in his soul.

 

The radical freedom-fighter was still engaged in the battle, but he was different now. Was it a spiritual change? Perhaps. Had he found a freedom that sets men free in spirit despite his long physical confinement and circumstantial constriction? Possibly.

 

Mandela’s Message upon His Release after 27 years (February 11, 1990)

His message was one of forgiveness, reconciliation and healing; letting bygones be bygones.  In that spirit, he emulated the example of Jesus Christ in His prayer from the cross in the midst of His suffering the agonies of crucifixion: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34).

In 1994, as the first fully democratically elected South African President representing all the people, Mandela  said that it was now time to heal old wounds and build South Africa for all the people, regardless of race.

 

As messianic a figure as President Mandela was to his people, and as lauded as he was and is – and rightly so, he was an imperfect and faulted, although remarkable human being.

However, when all is said and done, he achieved – along with others who stood with him – great things and demonstrated a greatness that accords with biblical principles, especially during the latter decades of his life. These reflect to a marked degree the principles of the Kingdom of Heaven and the blessedness our Lord spoke of in the beatitudes. For example:

From Matthew 5:3-9 (NIV2011. Inserted applications for these musings are mine.)
Blessed are the poor in spirit [humble], for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are those who mourn [over loss, sin, or injustice] for they will be comforted.

Blessed are the meek [gentle, patient], for they will inherit the earth.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness [justice; seeking and doing what’s right and just], for they will be filled.

Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

Blessed are the pure in heart [honest, true; pure in motive], for they will see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

 

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You might like to consider whether other verses from the Beatitudes and The Sermon on the Mount (Matthew chapters 5 thro’ 7) should also be considered as in some measure evidenced in Mr. Mandela’s life.

His legacy will live on. It will be interesting to see it being played out in myriad small ways in individual lives as well as in the larger sphere of international politics.

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Has Nelson Mandela been instrumental in elevating your focus – your gaze – in ways that I haven’t touched on here? 

Perhaps you disagree with me. And that’s fine, too. Be free to comment.

Personally, Nelson Mandela raised more than my eyebrows; my heart and mind and hopes were also raised.

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Peter A. Black is a freelance writer in Southwestern Ontario, and is author of “Parables from the Pond” – a children's / family book (mildly educational, inspirational in orientation, character reinforcing). (Finalist -- Word Alive Press ISBN 1897373-21-X)

His inspirational column, P-Pep! appears weekly in The Guide-Advocate. His articles have appeared in 50 Plus Contact and testimony, and several newspapers in Ontario. Peter’s current book project comprises a collection of 52 column articles.

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Eyes-Down Danger . . . Raised Gaze --- (Peter A. Black)

He was probably 12 or 13, and swept right off the sidewalk from an intersecting street.  
I saw him in the nick of time and took evasive steering and braking action, averting a collision between my car and his body and bike. The kid carried on his sweet way with his mobile music device buds in his ears, as though nothing had happened. The sidewalks and roads were all his.

The adrenalin rush hadn’t quite settled down before a youngster on a skate board flipped it on the sidewalk and stumbled onto the road.

An automobile takes a corner ungainly and wide. The driver, steering with one hand, holds a phone at the ear.  Another driver’s eyes are down, peering at a smart phone screen, thumb flicking out a text message.

You’ve seen them—skaters ghosting along on roller blades, youths careening down the road on skateboards, longboards and bikes, staring blankly ahead, preoccupied with whatever’s coming through their mobile sound system ear buds.  And I suspect some joggers too, get lost in a world of intimate sound. 

Several weeks ago I witnessed a car come crashing down on its roof after slamming into a stationary vehicle, in broad daylight. The driver’s life was spared, but she was charged with careless driving. It’s believed that the woman had been texting or otherwise using a mobile phone, while accelerating after leaving an intersection.  That’s eyes down danger!

Little babies and toddlers with "eyes-down moms" can be put in very real danger. Have you seen this sort of scenario?: A mom’s conversing or dialing on her mobile phone—or worse, texting—while pushing a baby stroller. She arrives at the kerb, but is preoccupied with twiddling her thumbs over the touchpad, and her eyes are down. Her attention’s not on the child or the traffic conditions. She dips the buggy onto the road and saunters out.

At that moment a driver swerves to avoid hitting them. Next, a vehicle comes round a corner and barely misses the baby buggy bearing its precious cargo. The mom jabbers away, crossing towards the other side, pushing her infant’s carriage ahead of her, oblivious to the fact she’s placing the child in danger. Her baby is first on the road and in the primary position of danger.
Of course, operating a mobile phone and texting can be done safely. Unfortunately, many people use this useful tool in unwise and inappropriate ways.

We can go about our lives with our spiritual eyes down. Putting much of our focus on the trivial and minutiae of life, we can become unaware of either the blessings around us or the potentially harmful situations we may stumble into.

Let us raise our gaze from the incidental to the transcendent, as we make our way through life. This can help us avoid unnecessary danger, while enjoying life and appreciating and sharing its blessings.

Isn’t that also a necessary approach in regard to developing and maintaining healthy relationships, and nurturing our spiritual and moral life—to focus on where we’re headed and yet be aware while on the journey?

“We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne” (Hebrews 12:2 NLT).

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Peter A. Black is a freelance writer in Southwestern Ontario, and is author of “Parables from the Pond” – a children's / family book (mildly educational, inspirational in orientation, character reinforcing).

  (Finalist -- Word Alive Press ISBN 1897373-21-X )

His inspirational column, P-Pep! appears weekly in The Guide-Advocate. His articles have appeared in 50 Plus Contact and testimony, and several newspapers in Ontario.

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Countertops, Cupboards & Craniums - Black

Bomp! Ouch! A short while later: Thud! Oochsh! "Man, not again – that hurts!"
Just a brief sound-scape, occurring with fair frequency, when a certain cranium comes in sudden painful contact with overhanging cupboards – especially in kitchens.

Most houses we’ve lived in over the years have had these cupboards handily located, yet out of the line of vision when someone’s head is inclined and the gaze directed towards the workspace of the counter-top. Problem is, I get so absorbed in what I’m looking at on the counter that I forget the cupboards are there above me, then when I straighten my back and lift my head I get a swift and painful reminder that they are indeed still there.

What’s this got to do with Holy Week, Good Friday, and Easter – or inspirational things in general? Well, nothing, really. But, maybe – sort of. This period affords a wonderful opportunity for us to look closely at our lives and at the heart of our faith; to look at the counter-top of grace and see the provisions God our Father in Heaven has prepared for us. And yet, the effect of it will be to elevate our gaze. We can look up and see the treasures through open cupboard doors – as it were – with clear heads and full hearts, in worship and praise to God for the Son He has given, our Saviour and Redeemer, and the price that was paid for our eternal redemption.

To help us do that, a good exercise is to read the latter chapters of the four Gospels – Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John (especially in John from chapter 11 and on), and follow Jesus through the later scenes of His earthly life and ministry, to His crucifixion, burial, and resurrection, and to meditate on these things. Nowadays, it can be difficult just finding the time or even a few minutes' peace and quiet to concentrate – let alone meditate! However, it needn’t take a whole lot of effort to elevate our mental eye-level and tune-in our interior ears. Just takes a little thought, an opening of the mind, and a breathing space of relative solitude. Sometimes it helps to flick off a few switches for fifteen or twenty minutes on several lines of information, communication, and noise, such as radio, tv, Internet, personal music playback device, cell-phone, or even the house phone, et cetera.

Some people work their way through these gospel narratives during Holy Week to focus on each of the Stations of the Cross. Others take any one of those scenes each time, and seek a deeper insight into its significance, while yet others in their quiet times will mull over a verse or two, or statements Jesus made during the closing days and hours of this period, including His words spoken from the cross.

As we do whatever is helpful to us with love, faith, and sincerity, we may well find ourselves becoming quite absorbed in this noble theme of God’s love for us demonstrated in Jesus Christ. But, don’t worry about getting a bomp or thud on the head; rather, anticipate receiving an elevated focus, a feast of good things for the spirit, and a gentle, comforting glow in the heart.

Peter Black
Author of Parables from the Pond published by Word Alive Press
"Written for kids - read and enjoyed by grandmas and grandpas too!"
This piece adapted from P-Pep! column by P. A. Black published in The Watford Guide-Advocate, April 13, 2006.