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.

 

~~~

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.

~~~

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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Is Christmas Coming Back Into Vogue? - Eleanor Shepherd

          

  I have noticed this year that instead of acknowledging the season as the Holiday Season, people are beginning again to recognize that the Holiday is Christmas and are wishing one another Merry Christmas.  I have noticed as I listen to the CBC that broadcasters are talking about the Holiday Season and also referring to it as Christmas.  The local CBC carol sing and fundraiser has been called by all of those participating a Christmas concert.  In the stores, the clerks have been wishing me a Happy Holiday and a Merry Christmas.  My question is why? 

           

           I wonder if perhaps it is because here in Quebec there has been so much discussion about the charter that our premier wants to introduce as a law underlining that this is a secular state.  This law would forbid the wearing of any obvious religious symbols by anyone who is being paid by the government.  This would include people like teachers, daycare workers and hospital employees. 

           

          While the desire of the premier in all of this has been to unite Quebecers around common secular values, instead there has been a greater mutual coming together of those to whom their religious convictions are important.  Muslims women who would be forbidden to wear the hijab are being supported by Christians who would not permitted to wear large crosses and Jewish men who are forbidden to wear the kippah on their heads.  Each of us realize that these are symbols of our faith that are important to us and we want the right to show the world that they matter to us.  What we have come to realize is that all of us are being targeted and we are united in our desire to quietly express the value of our faith by what we wear. 

            

           In a strange way, I think that much good will come from all of this.  We have nothing to fear when we are able to be open about our faith.  If our faith is true, as we believe it is, there is nothing to fear about telling others what we believe in an attitude of respect, not proudly announcing that we have the truth, but rather humbly exposing the values that govern and give meaning to our lives.  Such an attitude is relevant to the climate of tolerance that is the hallmark of Canadian life and goes with the welcoming of others from many different parts of the world to discover a new life in our country. 

          

          While I would prefer that this law not come into being, since like my fellow Quebecers who are Muslim and Jewish, I want to be able to openly wear the symbols of my faith, I realize that even if it is passed, there will be unexpected good come from what happens nevertheless. 

           

           We will have unique opportunities to support those who feel they must take a stand against such a law.  It will open up more doors for dialogue and encouragement for one another as people of faith.  It will enable us to demonstrate the strongest power in the world – the power of love.  That will mark us as truly Christian – followers of the One who came into our world to incarnate love and invites us to become members of another kingdom, the Kingdom ruled by Love. 

                 In anticipation of a greater freedom to be who we are, I wish you a Happy Holiday and Merry Christmas!

Word Guild Award
2011

Word Guild Award
2009

http://emshepherd.blogspot.com

John Adams: Peace Maker -HIRD

Note: This is a test blog post, as I have been unable to post for the past few months.  I went into this blog through www.blogger.com rather than blogger.ca.

By the Rev. Dr. Ed Hird

Every Christmas we hear Christmas Carolers singing ‘Peace on Earth’. One of my most popular Deep Cove Crier articles, with almost 17,000 online readers, has been my article on John Adams’ good friend Benjamin Franklin. Both were founding fathers of our neighbour to the south.  My American relatives have told me that Adams is the greater man.

Adams’ greatest strength and weakness was that he was a passionate peace-maker, even at the cost of sabotaging his own re-election as the second American President.  Napoleon in 1797 captured 300 American ships, six percent of the American fleet. (1)  The ‘hawks’ in Adams’ own Federalist party desperately wanted to go to war with France, but Adams negotiated a peace treaty that allowed him to disband Alexander Hamilton’s unnecessary and costly army.  Hamilton, the commander of this army, took this as a personal insult, and dedicated himself to splitting Adams’ own Federalist Party.  John Adams wrote his wife Abigail saying that he knew “Hamilton to be a proud-spirited, conceited, aspiring mortal, always pretending to morality…as great a hypocrite as any in the US…” (2)

With two Federalist presidential candidates, the Republican presidential candidate, Thomas Jefferson, won the election on the 36^thballot after a deadlocked Congressional tie vote. (3) Jefferson, who had foolishly endorsed the blood-thirsty French Revolution, was wisely mentored by Adams.  At his final State of Union address, President Adams stated: “Here and throughout our country, may simple measures, pure morals, and true religion, flourish forever!” (4)  His final prayer as he left the House was: “I pray Heaven to bestow the best of Blessings on this House and all that shall hereafter inhabit it. May none but honest and wise Men ever rule under this roof.” (5) Despite strong political differences, Adams and Jefferson ended as good pen pal friends, both dying in 1826 on the significant American July 4^th holiday. (6)   Jefferson acknowledged Adams as ‘the colossus of independence.’ (7)

John Adams was both passionate about liberty and yet cautious about our human tendency to selfishness.  James Grant commended Adams for “his unqualified love of liberty, and his unsentimental perception of the human condition.” (8)  As such, Adams produced constitutional boundaries that guarded people’s essential freedoms of life and liberty of speech, assembly, and religion.  The US Congress praised Adams for his “patriotism, perseverance, integrity and diligence.” (9)   Adams insightfully commented: “our Constitution was made only for a moral & religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.” (10) The root of equality, said Adams, was the Golden Rule – Love your neighbour as yourself.  (11)

Adams has been described as one of North America’s greatest bibliophiles.  He loved to learn, reading voraciously in wide-ranging areas of interest, including the Bible.  Equality for Adams was grounded in equal access to education for all: “knowledge monopolized, or in the Possession of a few, is a Curse to Mankind. We should dispense it among all Ranks.  We should educate our children.  Equality should be preserved in knowledge.” (12)  His prayer for his children was: ““Let them revere nothing but religion, morality, and liberty.”  (13)

One of Adams’ strengths was that he was deeply honest, even to his own political detriment. Unlike the worldly-wise Benjamin Franklin, he would say exactly what was on his mind. Adams urged Franklin to get more exercise, saying that “the sixth Commandment forbids a man to kill himself as it does to kill his neighbour. A sedentary life is tantamount to suicide.” (14)  James Grant commented that “like the mythical George Washington, he seemed incapable of telling a lie; he was naturally and organically honest.” (15)  Adams once commented: “The Ten Commandments and the Sermon on the Mount contain my religion.”(16)  Adams was indeed an unusual politician. He found the endless political bickering to be painful and pointless, commenting that “a resolution that two plus two makes five would require fully two days of debate.” (17)  Adams was known as a foul-weather politician, only drawn to serve his country because of the intense crisis.  He would have much rather been anywhere else: “The longer I live and the more I see of public men, the more I wish to be a private one.” (18)  Adams was a latecomer to American Independence, preferring to work for reconciliation with the British.  While Benjamin Franklin had favour and therefore initial funding from France , John Adams eventually obtained key loans to the United States from the cautious Dutch.  Because of his endless negotiations in France, Holland and England, Adams only saw his dear wife Abigail for a grand total of three months over six years. (19)   He wrote to Josiah Quincy: “Happy is the man who has nothing to do with politics and strife.” (20)

 One of Adams’ first assignments in Congress was to draft a resolution  appointing a day of fasting, humiliation, and prayer throughout the thirteen colonies: “that we may, with united hearts and voices, unfeignedly confess and deplore our many sins, and offer up our joint supplications to the all-wise Omnipotent, and merciful Disposer of all events; humbling beseeching him to forgive our iniquities, to remove our present calamities, to avert those desolating judgments with which we are threatened, and to bless our rightful sovereign, King George the third.” (21)   Sadly King George dismissed Adams and his colleagues as ‘wicked and desperate persons.’ (22)

King George’s thirty-three thousand British troops resulted in thirty-five thousand American deaths by sword, sickness, or captivity. (23) Adams knew that without heart-forgiveness, American independence would quickly become as barbaric as the French Revolution:  “In a time of war, one may see the necessity and utility of the divine prohibitions of revenge and the Injunctions of forgiveness of Injuries and love of Enemies, which we find in Christian Religion. Unrestrained, in some degree by these benevolent Laws, Men would be Devils, at such a Time as such.”  (24)

In 1815 he wrote his own gravestone epitaph: “Here lies John Adams, who took upon himself the responsibility of the peace with France in the year 1800.” (25)  My prayer is that we too may be passionate peace-makers like President John Adams.

The Rev. Dr. Ed Hird, Rector

St. Simon’s Church North Vancouver

Anglican Mission in the Americas (Canada)

http://stsimonschurch.ca

 -an article for the Dec 2013 Deep Cove Crier

-award-winning author of the book ‘Battle for the Soul of Canada’

http://www.battleforthesoulofcanada.blogspot.com

p.s. In order to obtain a copy of the book ‘Battle for the Soul of Canada’, please send a $18.50 cheque to ‘Ed Hird’, #1008-555 West 28th Street, North Vancouver, BC V7N 2J7. For mailing the book to the USA, please send $20.00 USD. This can also be done by PAYPAL using the e-mail ed_hird@telus.net . Be sure to list your mailing address. The Battle for the Soul of Canada e-book can be obtained for $9.99 CDN/USD.

-Click to download a complimentary PDF copy of the Battle for the Soul study guide : Seeking God’s Solution for a Spirit-Filled Canada

You can also download the complimentary Leader’s Guide PDF: Battle for the Soul Leaders Guide

Footnotes

(1) James Grant, John Adams: Party of One , (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, New York, NY, 2005), p. 392.

(2) Gore Vidal, Inventing a Nation: Washington, Adams, Jefferson, (Yale University Press, New Haven, 2003), p. 133.

(3)  David McCullough, John Adams , (Simon and Schuster, New York, NY, 2001), p. 572.

(4)  John Adams, State Of The Union Address 11/11/1800,

  http://readbookonline.net/readOnLine/50063/

(5) McCullough, John Adams, p. 560, picture 57.

(6) McCullough, p. 646.

(7) http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Colossus+of+Independence.-a079789133

(8) Grant, p. 61.

(9)  Grant, p. 336.

(10) http://www.john-adams-heritage.com/quotes/

(11) McCullough, p. 543.

(12) Fragmentary Notes for ‘A Dissertation on the Canon and the Feudal Law’,  http://founders.archives.gov/documents/Adams/06-01-02-0052-0002

(13) Grant, p. 165.

(14) Grant, p. 287.

(15) Grant, p. 100.

(16) Grant, p. 442.

(17) Grant, p. 142.

(18) Grant, p. 146; McCullough, p. 207.

(19) McCullough, p. 271 “At last, on June 11th 1782, Adams negotiated with a syndicate of three Amsterdam banking houses — Willink, Van Staphorst, and De la Lande & Fynje — a loan of five million guilders, or two million dollars at five percent interest.  It was not the ten million dollars Congress had expected…”;  Grant, p. 196.

(20) Grant, p. 157.

(21) Grant, p. 153.

(22) Grant, p. 152.

(23) Grant, p. 256.

(24) Grant, p. 184.

(25) Grant, p. 383.

No One Should be Invisible - Rose McCormick Brandon

A man dropped in to my blog to read my articles on Joan Sepp. His reason for visiting was the recent death of Joan’s husband, Toivo. (Joan passed away a few years ago.) My visitor left this note - 

"I had a hard childhood and was often upset when I delivered the newspaper (to the Sepp home). On the days when I was most alone, one of them often met me at the door and chatted with me. I can't even count the number of times I didn't do something rash because these strong people had taken time to speak with me."

This caused me to think about the “invisible” people who cross our paths each day. They serve us in restaurants, grocery stores and banks. They deliver mail, parcels, newspapers and fliers, fill our gas tanks, pour our coffee, clean our messes and repair our stuff. They take our complaints, reduce our phone bills, ask us to please subscribe to their magazine, offer us deals on this and that, tempt us to buy chocolate bars and cookies. Mostly, they are front-line people who serve. They don’t control their product. But, often we act like they do.

 

Jesus was always mindful of individuals whether he found them in the synagogue, begging on the street, fetching water, tending sheep, fishing or collecting taxes. He looked past their duties. He spoke to the person behind the job. And because of His approach, lives changed for the good. People realized they mattered to God, that they weren’t invisible.

 

This reader’s comment has stirred me. It has reminded me that it really matters how I treat people, whether I meet them face to face, on-line or talk to them on the phone.

I’ve pledged to be kinder. If a busy man like Jesus always found time for people, can’t I do the same?

Jesus of Nazareth went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed . . . Acts. 10:38

Joan and Toivo Sepp lost two children to murder. They suffered many dark days, yet they took time to notice and talk to a lonely paper boy. Their noticing made a difference in his life. “After everything that happened to them,” my reader says, “they still had time for a chubby kid delivering the paper.”

 

Making it Personal: Lord, forgive me for not following your example of showing kindness to every human being who crosses my path. Make me alert and mindful to do better.

The articles on Joan Sepp: one, two, three

 

My book, One Good Word Makes all the Difference, is available here.

Why Shepherds? - Eleanor Shepherd

Why did God choose to announce the arrival of Christ to shepherds? Was there something significant or appropriate about this choice? 

The metaphor of shepherds occurs frequently in the Scriptures. I have often been told it is an appropriate name, for me as a pastor. 

Through the Old Testament prophets, God speaks out against religious leaders who are supposed to be shepherding the people of God and caring for them in a way that a shepherd cares for his sheep.  Jeremiah says, "Woe to the shepherds who are destroying and scattering the sheep of my pasture! declares The Lord." (Jeremiah 23:1-3).  The religious leaders were guilty of oppression, violence and personal aggrandizement.  They failed to follow God's ways themselves so they did not encourage the development of faith and justice in the people they served. 

            God does not allow their failure to deter Him from accomplishing His purposes or showing love for His people.  The prophet goes on to promise, "I will place shepherds over them who will tend them, and they will no longer be afraid or terrified, nor will any be missing," declares the Lord.  This was fulfilled partially following the Exile, with good leaders like Zerrubabbel, Ezra and Nehemiah.  The prophecy continues to tell how The Lord, “... will raise up for David a righteous Branch, a King who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land."         

            This righteous Branch promised by Jeremiah is Jesus.  He told His followers in John 10:11, "I am the good shepherd."  He best demonstrates for us what a true shepherd looks like.   

 

            A strange and appropriate irony of the Christmas story is that Jesus, the good shepherd who cares so deeply for God's people, was welcomed to this earth by shepherds.  

                

The contrast becomes more remarkable when we realize that at the time of Jesus, shepherds were in some ways the rejects of society with their lack of sophistication.  They were the lowest and most despised of the social groups in the city.  Nevertheless, instead of sending angels to the religious or political leaders, God sent the Message of "good news to all people" of the birth of Jesus to the shepherds. 

            Jesus is the Good Shepherd and it seems appropriate for Him to be welcomed to earth by those who understand what that means. Yet, there is more to the choice of shepherds.

The beloved Psalm 23 describes the good shepherd.  It affirms that The Lord provides for us, never abandons us and gives us the best life possible.  That is what it means to have Him as our shepherd.  I wonder if in choosing to share the glorious news with the shepherds, God's desire was that on earth, He might find those who will show such care and concern for His Son, even though He knew what lay ahead.  Is that why He gave the shepherds their role in the story of Christmas? 

 Another characteristic of shepherds helps us understand what was going on. 

            The Bible not only speaks of the shepherds, it also has something to say about sheep.  One of the titles given to Jesus by John the Baptist was the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. 

The book of Revelation presents Jesus as the Lamb.  Revelation 5:6 quotes John, "Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing in the centre of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders." 

           

            The song sung by those encircling the throne is: "Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honour and glory and praise."

           

Another irony of the Christmas story is that the shepherds to whom the news came were likely those who cared for the sheep chosen to be used in the Temple sacrifices.  These sheep were to be as perfect as possible and it was necessary for the shepherds to see that they were well cared for.  After the death and resurrection of Jesus the custom of offering sheep as a sacrifice for sin was no longer required.  Jesus, the perfect Lamb of God sacrificed His life for the sins of all mankind for all time on the Cross of Calvary.    

Why were the shepherds given such a significant role in the Christmas story?  Perhaps it was because if they were faithful to their calling they most closely resembled the way that God cares for people, and Christ the good shepherd was one of their own.  They too, more than anyone else understood the significance of His sacrifice, as the Lamb of God who came to take away the sin of the world. 

Word Guild Award
          2011

Word Guild Award
             2009

http://emshepherd.blogspot.com 

Exchanging Garden Bulbs for Advent/Christmas Bulbs/MANN

Change is good; it keeps me on my toes. I am reminded not to change 'just for the sake of change', but to find ways to bring newness and variety to my life. The season of Advent invites us to prepare: one week at a time as we move toward Christmas. Each week brings change with a new awareness of God's gifts of Christ to a broken world. Christmas is not always a happy time. Yet, in days of depression, grief or sorrow when some might wish this season over, there is goodness. And so we experience opposites, contradictions, and change as natural as plum pudding and tinsel.

A beautiful garden whether it's yours or mine pleases me in the summer and encourages me to go home and plant some seeds. Children's laughter as they slid down the barn hill brings back pleasant memories and makes me wish that I could do that just one more time. I bring in the garden bulbs already anticipating next year's colour and go to the basement to dig out the Christmas bulbs knowing that the first flood of light on the house roof will earn applause. I take great joy in seeing the still green grass show through the snow even in winter's infancy. As I approach the longest day of the year, I know that the very next day will have a few more moments of daylight.

What are some of the ways we can bring change, transformation and satisfaction into our life and the lives of others? Look at a ball of yarn in a store window and picture the sweater or mitts under the tree. Listen to an old man hum and make a plan to offer your gift of music to someone. Watch children at play and learn from them. Remember the loved one who is no longer present this Christmas and give a gift to a needy child in his or her memory. Look over your family tree and see those who are alone at Christmas and invite them to your table. Reflect on those conversations and exchanges with others that have grown a bitter root and find a way to reconcile. Stop and share a smile and handshake at the post office or stoplight. This is God at work through you.

Meet this Advent/Christmas season with energy, enthusiasm, anticipation, and hope in spite of any lingering shadows. Turn the everyday, ordinary and mundane events of each day into possibilities of a blessing. Look at your interaction with other people as seeds of hope and fresh beginnings in their lives. Give the greatest gift of love and offer it to other people in ways that will make a difference to them. Be assured that when you share material, spiritual or emotional gifts, goodness will be transformed to meet the needs of those around you. That's another miracle of the season.

Blessings,

Donna

http://www.donnamann.org

Aggie's Voice was launched October 29^th at the former Burgoyne General Store.

A Rare Find will be launched Saturday, Dec.7^th, Faith Family Books/Scarborough.