While the passing of Nelson Mandela was not unexpected, his life and his example still hold the power to inspire in surprising ways. As I have read the many well-deserved accolades and poignant remembrances of his significant commitment to service and human rights, I have been struck by one fact especially. He was a leader on the global stage, yet he saw himself as a teacher and communicator.
When the poet Maya Angelou was keynote speaker at an educators' conference, she stated: "Educators are in the business of composing a new world. It is an honorable and noble profession." Nelson Mandela was an uncommon man whose life work continues to have a global impact, and underscores the power of one person -- one teacher -- to make a difference in so many lives.
The humanitarian Dr. Albert Schweitzer eloquently noted there are times when our own light goes out, and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Mandela's life work was honorable and noble, and his spirit will serve as a spark for generations. Towards that end, I will borrow words from Maya Angelou's tribute poem to Mandela: "We will not forget you, we will not dishonor you, we will remember and be glad that you lived among us, that you taught us, and that you loved us all."
Nelson Mandela: Teaching a New World
Nelson Mandela: Teaching a New World
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