I remember very vividly the summer I first read Nelson Mandela's A LONG WALK TO FREEDOM. I was living at my grandmother's house then. At nineteen years old, it was the longest book I had ever attempted to read. But I felt my soul leaping and growing and telling me that I had to live courageously. I could not afford to not fight for justice. I could not afford to not dedicate my life to love's purposes.
By reading Mandela's story, I saw what the best of humanity looked like. I saw that no matter how much oppression and humiliation others may inflict upon us, we can rise above it. We can choose to not let their evil define us.
Nelson Mandela is my hero. He was a giant of a man who had the unique ability to make others feel even larger than he was. You see, that is what great people do. They remind us that the light they have is inside all of us as well. We only need to let it shine, fearlessly and with the intent of eradicating evil by the power of love.
How blessed are we to have had such an example. He joins us as a beloved ancestor now, and with that comes our responsibility to continue the work that he and so many others have begun. I am reminded of that great James Baldwin quote that says "Your crown has been paid for. Put it on your head and wear it." We are a people for whom others died. Not just as people of color, but all those who have been under the dense weight of oppression.
We must know that our destinies are inextricably linked. The plight of the women in Soweto is linked to mine. So is the plight of the child running in fear of drones in Afghanistan or the displaced people of Palestine. We must take responsibility for the earth and her offspring. We must not allow innocent lives to be taken. We must end hunger and the poverty that surrounds us all too comfortably. We must arm ourselves with love and the wisdom needed to make our world a transformed place. A better place will simply not suffice.
So in closing, Madiba, the great lover of freedom and our collective humanity, we honor your legacy. We pray that we can make you proud by adhering to your teachings and letting the values that led you to become our way. May we move in the direction of love and away from fear. May we stand up for our gay brothers and sisters. May we hold those in leadership accountable for their misdeeds. May we expect more from our religious leaders and may our churches become temples of love.
If we can do this, we can save the planet.
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