During his long years in prison, Nelson Mandela noticed time and time again that no matter how cruel his jailers were, sooner or later they would display an act of pure goodness.  Thus he came to believe that there is a spark of divine goodness in every human being.

This belief ties in with what Christianity teaches: We are made in the image of God.

Similarly, A Course in Miracles teaches: You are as God created you.

ACIM also says ‘The Word of God is given me to speak’ and goes on to explain that the Word of God means ‘My Son is pure and holy like Myself.’

Denying this, is denying your own nature.

Our purpose is to find our way back home

Yet this is the state of the human being – denying our own nature. We come from our source, separate from our godliness and goodness, then spend our life with a deep nagging instinct to find our way back home; back to our original nature.

What if the trials and tribulations of our lives offer us the way back? What if it offers opportunities to make peace with ourselves, peace with the other person(s) and peace with God?

Consider a higher drama at play

What if there really is a higher purpose behind our troubles than merely causing us grief?

For instance: What if the purpose behind Mandela’s life and 27 years in jail, was not just about being instrumental in abolishing apartheid in South Africa? What if the purpose was to show the entire world forgiveness is possible – no matter what the circumstances and no matter how you were treated? What if that was the greater purpose?

What if every time we are faced with a trying situation, we remember and accept there is a higher purpose whether or not we know it or understand it?  And all we have to do is play our part. As Shakespeare said:  All the world’s a stage; And all the men and women merely players.

I believe an eye on the higher perspective will take the sting out of many a situation. Being open to the idea that the situation offers an opportunity to take you closer to your creator, it becomes easier to simply allow it to unfold and breathe through it. It becomes easier to let go, be less attached to the way we see it and open to other possibilities.  Such an attitude can help us stay grounded and be an island of calm in an ocean of storms.

Nelson Mandela showed us how

Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, father of the nation, Madiba, Tata, Dalibunga – Convener of the Dialogue, left the world an incredible legacy. I believe the way to honour him, is to live the lessons he taught:  forgiveness, love, compassion, truth, reconciliation, humility.

We can do that by remembering that every person we meet has a spark of divine goodness. And treat everyone with respect bordering on love ‘I recognise me in you. We share the same spark of divine goodness.’

Will this be easy?

• It takes willingness to see the divine spark in ourselves and others.
• It takes willingness to be open to a higher purpose we have no idea about.
• It takes willingness to see things differently so we can defuse our conflict situations.
• It takes willingness to concede that the ways of the world does not serve our best interests.

And it takes courage.

We have a choice

I believe we can do it if we choose to and I believe the world would be a better place if we do.

After all, Mandela gave so much; surely we can give a little willingness?