Invictus
I watched this movie, out yesterday. I was especially interested as I have done some research into South Africa and Nelson Mandela in the course of my job for www.peopletopeople.com. We travel delegations regularly to South Africa (and around the world) promoting peace and fulfilling the dreams and life’s work of such great men as Dwight Eisenhower and Nelson Mandela.
While watching this movie, I was amazed again by the power of words, ideas and persuasion in changing the human heart & thus our world. I understand once again why one of the descriptions of God the Son is “The Word”. (As in, “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and was God…All things came into being through Him.” John chapter 1)
I also happen to be reading the book “The Shack”, by William P. Young, in which his depiction of God the Holy Spirit explains emotions by stating that “Paradigm changes Perspective” and emotions are based on our perspective. If the paradigm (The context or truths by which one views the world) is true, the perspective is true and the emotions created are right. Emotions are like gasoline, neither right nor wrong. They are energy for good or evil. The emotions created by Mandela’s perspective in this movie created unity and changed the perspective of a nation.
Following is the poem, Invictus, that sustained & inspired Mandela and the South African rugby captain to greatness.
Out of the night that covers me, black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be for my unconquerable soul.
In the fell clutch of circumstance I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance, my head is bloody, but unbowed.
Beyond this place of wrath and tears looms but the horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years finds and shall find me unafraid.
It matters not how strait the gate, how charged with punishments the scroll
I am the master of my fate: I am the captain of my soul.
Mr. Mandela was an amazing man who amazed and inspired a nation, and the world, by forgiving those who kept him imprisoned for almost three decades. Vengeance is common and expected. Forgiveness and grace are extraordinary and capture the hearts of men.
That is because they are attributes of God. He sets the world in its true paradigm. God is truth and love and light. He is. He loves and shines and enlightens every man. Only those who bow their heads to Him will find a paradigm that makes sense of the bludgeoning and the menace of the years. He is the captain of my soul.