The Long Walk: Prayer in Memory of Nelson Mandela

Nelson Mandela's Inaugural Speech in Pretoria, May, 1994: 

"Out of  the experience  of an extraordinary human disaster that lasted too long, must be born a society of which all humanity will be proud.We have, at last, achieved our political emancipation. We pledge ourselves to liberate all our people from the continuing bondage of poverty, deprivation, suffering, gender,and other discrimination. Never, never, and never again will shall it be that the beautiful land will again experience the oppression of one by another.... The sun shall never set on so glorious a human achievement." 

-www.centerofconcern.org, 2013

The Long Walk
Prayer in Memory of Nelson Mandela

The long walk to freedom

Leads where we’d never imagine.

Blinding blasts of fate and grace

Forge God’s unlikely stalwarts.

A young man’s peaceful ways

Stumbled as blood ran ruts

Into a path that led not to hope

But to ten thousand days in prison.

Breaking rocks in the glaring sun

Stole sight, but sharpened vision

For ways to break down walls

Of solid hate and oppression.

Freedom came, yet not truly

Until there was forgiveness.

If not asked, still freely given,

The balm of reconciliation.

Revenge was not an option

For a people moving forward.

Debt and AIDS and more foes still

Stretched the trail for an aging man.

Lord, welcome your servant Nelson

His journey finally done.

Strengthen our steps with your Spirit

On the long walk to freedom.

                                                                                                             -www.centerofconcern.org, 2013