Goodbye Tata

I never met Nelson Mandela in person.

I wish I had but I suppose the whole world wishes that too.

But I lived in the time where his magic shone.

And that was special.

 

He rescued a nation drowning in self hate through oppression like the captain of a ship in a massive squall.

Without fear and regard for his own life he led us through to an island of hope where we saw the error of a few men determined to stop freedom.

But Nelson Mandela showed us that freedom cannot be stopped.

It cannot be bottled.

It cannot be caged.

 

I am sure that there are many men and women who are fighting many battles on many different levels.

Think for a second, when the wind picks up and the waters become muddied of Mandela.

How he fought the urges of revenge and retribution after 27 years behind bars.

And replaced them with reconciliation.

 

He suffered years of detainment so that our generation and the generations to follow will never have to.

When  I woke up this morning and heard the news that Nelson Mandela had passed on I was sad at first but then a sense of relief overcame me.

He could now rest peacefully.

He lived his life as a beacon of hope for others. A lighthouse of compassion and resilience.

And I will never forget that.

 

He was indeed the master of his own fate.

I never met Nelson Mandela.
But I will never forget what he did

And who he was.

And that is special.

 

- Jason

Don't forget to have a look at  Damon and  Zaba's tributes to Nelson Mandela.