大象传媒

Good morning.聽 鈥淚t鈥檚 in your hands to create a better world for all who live in it鈥�.聽 So said the late Nelson Mandela, whose birthday today will be marked by a special commemoration on the first International Mandela Day since he died.聽

Last summer, I went to South Africa with a group of teenagers.聽 We鈥檇 travelled through Namibia, where we worked at a primary school in a settlement of corrugated iron houses.聽 We led a whole range of activities, and did some repairs on the school building, including replacing broken glass in many of the windows so that children and teachers could work more effectively in the cold winter temperatures.聽 When we got to Cape Town, the group were especially keen to see Robben Island, where the man had been imprisoned, whose vision to change the world for the better they鈥檇 found so inspiring.聽

Mandela Day encourages everyone to become part of that vision and this year, it suggests 67 ways in which anyone can change the world.聽 The list includes small gestures of kindness and thought for others that in themselves might seem insignificant, yet together, would begin to build a global movement for good.聽聽 Jesus said that the kingdom of heaven is like yeast that gradually works its way through the flour until the whole dough is leavened.聽 Yet Nelson Mandela recognised that even the smallest gesture can be too much to make:聽 we haven鈥檛 got time to help a neighbour with their shopping or pick up litter or coach a kids鈥� sports team, and we don鈥檛 want to give away our money or possessions.聽 鈥淥ne of the most difficult things鈥� said Mandela, 鈥渋s not to change society 鈥� but to change yourself鈥�.

Lord, free us from our selfish interests and guide us to see your way and to do your will.聽 Amen.