18/07/2013
A spiritual comment and prayer to begin the day with Claire Campbell Smith.
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Claire Campbell
Good morning.銆赌 Today is the 95th銆赌birthday of Nelson Mandela.銆赌銆赌 For weeks, the world has watched, fearing to hear the worst from the hospital where the revered South African leader has been lying, critically ill. Yet today, on International Mandela Day, we鈥檙e invited to adopt an altogether more hopeful and determined stance, typical of Mandela himself, by celebrating his achievements, and also by recognising銆赌our銆赌ability to have a positive effect on others around us and to help change the world for the better.銆赌 This year鈥檚 motto is 鈥楾ake action, inspire change, make every day a Mandela day鈥�.銆赌銆赌 Now if everyone did that, wouldn鈥檛 it be a great birthday present!
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Mandela鈥檚 achievements in terms of democracy, human rights and reconciliation are great.銆赌銆赌銆赌 When I was in Cape Town a year after apartheid ended for an Easter Day service, broadcast from a township church, the resurrection themes of freedom and triumph over evil took on an almost tangible quality.銆赌 But according to his wife, Graca Machel, the best gift Mandela has given to his nation is unity 鈥� the opportunity to unite in love for him and for his country.銆赌 So tragic therefore that the rifts within his own family have come to such public attention.銆赌
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Yet maybe that gives us a starting point as to how we can each begin to change the world 鈥� by starting small and cherishing the relationships we have with family, friends, those we work or share time with.銆赌 At the heart of the Christian faith is the concept of interdependence, modelled on God 鈥� Father, Son and Holy Spirit.銆赌
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Lord, may the Christ who once reconciled Jew and Gentile, slave and free, continue to break down the walls which divide us.銆赌 AmenBroadcast
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