The Deep Hope of Madiba Magic

I remember the very first time I saw Nelson Mandela. It was shortly after he was released on February 11 , 1990. We had been to see a movie in the Rose bank Shopping Centre in Johannesburg. The mall was pretty quiet. As we walked out , in he walked , surrounded by a body Guard or two. One might actually have missed seeing him. We greeted him from the short distance although I longed and latter wished I had rushed and greeted him personally. The thing that struck me most was that he was very tall. he walked with a gentle but authoritative manner. He held respect in his hand but held it humbly.

I latter saw in from a great distance, on the day he was inaugurated as our first democratically elected president. Doug and I journeyed to Pretoria to experience the exuberance and excitement first hand, along with many, many other South Africans. It was a glorious and emotional time for us all.

Now, I fast forward to the year 2013. Hour beloved country has been through so, so much and more. As I look back to those days of heady liberation from the tyranny of Apartheid and now, look forward to our future, I know it was all worth it. Yes, we have enormous obstacles to smooth running government. Yes we have problems that loom so big that it feels as if would suffocate. But in the words of The Lorax by Seuss, UNLESS..... unless we cling to that which is true and good and unless we look to those who fought for liberation and all they stood for in that fight.... unless we ourselves take up courage and get involved on a practicle level. Unless we pray and ask God to have mercy on us. UNLESS.

Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela had enormous courage and stood up for what was good in a time where that action might and did cost a great deal. Spending 27 years in prison was no trivial thing. I pray that many in our Government will have that sort of courage. The kind that does the unfashionable thing; the dangerous thing; the right thing despite popular views.

As our beloved Madiba lies dying in a Pretoria hospital, we, the nation, who loves him, waits. Each morning I turn on the news and wait...... is it today. I feel sad already for his impending loss. He symbolises so much for us as a country with a young and fragile democracy. He is our symbol.

and so we all wait.......

I wonder though if this lifting up of this great man. This man who could forgive in the face of real hardness and hardship and struggle. I wonder if we, the people of this beloved country of mine, long for someone else. There is a space in our hearts and we long for a perfect, kind, loving, sincere, all knowing, truthful and loyal man or woman. We long for such a person. The truth is that even Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela is not perfect. There will be things he did that we would not agree with ; things he thought that were wrong. But I know someone who is perfect in every way. Who is totally trustworthy and real.

Jesus!!

I wonder if when we love and lift up people up high to a place of almost worship, I wonder if we are simply and rightly longing for the Lord Jesus Christ.

Yet, as I wonder these things and think these thoughts, I continue to pray a good and right pray for Madiba

Lord Jesus, will you in your mercy, be gracious tho Nelson Mandela as he lies so ill. Please would you call out to him and save him because no matter how great he is and has been to us, he needs you to save him. Have mercy oh Lord. Thank you for his life and love given for us as a country. Thanks you for your mercy to us through him in giving him as our first Democratic president. Thanks you Jesus. Bless us as we travel further without him with us. I pray in your name. Amen