Authentic

Africa Diary, an interesting blog by Africa Bureau Chief Geoffrey York of the Globe and Mail, caught my eye last evening. The piece was a brief article on the legendary Nelson Mandela, the man who endured 27 years in a South African prison, then became the country’s president. Because of popular interest in Invictus, the new Clint Eastwood film about Mandela, York wanted to know more about what the man was like in private. In other words, what would those who worked with him without cameras present have to say about him years after the fact? What was this “living saint” really like outside his public image?

To learn the answer, York caught up with Etienne van Eck, a former policeman who had served as a bodyguard to Mr. Mandela from 1994 to 1999. York reports that, “He (van Eck) convinced me that the Mandela legend was equally authentic among those who saw him at close quarters every day”.

Authentic! The word seems particularly powerful when used to describe this legend who endured almost three decades in an apartheid prison, and then “emerged with forgiveness in his heart”. But would the word be any less significant if used to describe us? Isn’t that what all of us would want people to say about us? Wouldn’t each of us prefer to be known as the same quality of person in private as our public persona portrays? Shouldn’t that be a personal goal for each of us? Ought not our individual character be up to this kind of scrutiny? The piece sets out an inspiring challenge!

York goes on to tell several stories from van Eck that demonstrate Mandela’s character. It is an interesting piece. You can read the whole story at the following website. I highly recommend it. Enjoy!

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/blogs/africa-chronicle/a-bodyguards-view-of-nelson-mandela/article1400710