22/05/2019
NELSON MANDELA (1918 - 2013)
FORGIVENESS
A Story of Forgiveness, Compassion And Tolerance
"To walk out of prison a free man is one thing. To gain that freedom, yet remain a prisoner of one's mind by refusing to forgive one's jailers is quite another." - Yomi Garnett
He was arrested in 1962, and subsequently sentenced to life imprisonment for conspiring to overthrow the South African state following the Rivonia Trial. He served 27 years in prison, split between Robben Island, Pollsmoor Prison, and Victor Verster Prison.
Nelson Mandela, reverently referred to as 'Madiba,' which means 'teacher,' was a former South African president, anti-apartheid revolutionary leader and political activist. He once related this remarkable story, and I render a recital of it in my own words.
"One day, shortly after I resumed office as president of South Africa, I took a rare stroll into the city, accompanied, naturally, by my close protection, the presidential bodyguard. I decided to have lunch at a downtown restaurant. As the waiters attended to our orders, I noticed a man sitting at a nearby table. Although his table faced mine directly, he was clearly trying his strenuous best to avoid eye contact with me. Yet, I recognized this man from a distant and painful past. I ordered one of my bodyguards, a soldier, to go and ask the man to join us with his food, and eat with us. The man brought up his food, sat by my side, and began to eat."
"As the man ate, he exhibited signs of extreme discomfiture, even as his hand trembled so violently that he spilled more than half of his food on the table and floor. He finished his food, and without as much as giving me a glance, scurried away like a very nervous squirrel.
"That man is obviously very ill. His hands trembled so much that he could barely eat!" My soldier remarked.
"No, not at all," I responded, "That man was the chief guard of Robben Island prison where I was jailed for 27 yeas. Often, after the horrible torture I was subjected to, I would scream and ask for a little water to drink."
To be continued...