In an interview by Oprah Winfrey of Nelson Mandela, the then President of South Africa, released on A Plus video, 18th July 2017, Nelson outlines some elemental truths. He talks about the people he has been in the company of, ‘some of them more qualified, more talented than I am. To sit down with them, to exchange views was one of the most revealing experiences I have (had)…it enriched your morality. It gave you courage to do better than your best… You have a limited period of time to stay on Earth. You must try and use that period for the purpose of transforming your country into what you desire it to be…Humility is one of the most important qualities which you must have because if you are humble, if you make people realize that you are no threat to them, then people will embrace you, listen to you.’
A Plus interview of Oprah Winfrey and Nelson Mandela
In my blog of November 25th 2016, titled ‘Everyone has a purpose’ on www.daviddivine.co, I outlined the comments of the head of the Shaolin temple in a film of the religious order in 2011, speaking of the value of ‘worth’. A monk had come to him for advice as he felt that he was worthless, of no value, no significance. The abbot says to the monk ‘… life is an accumulation of experiences…and asked the question, ‘a piece of gold, a pile of dust. Which is the more useful? The monk replies, ‘The gold of course’. The Abbot answered, ‘but to a seed?’ Never underestimate yourself. We all have a purpose in life. We need to find it. Sometimes, others can assist us.’
In the Channel 4 News video clip below of a hospital unit for chronically challenged children, considered ‘disabled’, in Vietnam, a wonderful young man named LOI, outlines his purpose in life. His parents gave him up to the hospital‘s care when he was four, as they could not afford to take care of him. Since then -and well into his young adulthood, he lives with the children at the hospital and became a role model for them. He wanted them to realize that they need to be strong and confident for the future and portrays the message to the viewer of the news item that the focus should be on the individual first, not our disabilities. See me. Embrace me, not my percieved disability. I am no threat to you because of how you see me. Allow yourself to accept me as I see myself-strong, confident, uniquely beautiful, of limitless value. I am. This is me.
Channel 4 News Video
LOI wants the viewer to see the children as he does. His family. His Brothers and Sisters. When he touches them in the film I am incredibly moved. It is difficult to watch. The children can at times be disquieting disfigured. He loves them and they do him. His touch is a moment of love in motion. Their touch of him is an acknowledgement of appreciation. It brought a tear to my eye. It brought to life the Shaolin Abbot’s comment, ‘Never underestimate yourself. We all have a purpose.’ When LOI smiled, it was love expressing itself. I accepted him. I embraced him. He made me feel ‘worthy’ and I was grateful to him. I needed him to reach out to me. Sometimes we need to be in the company of others who bring out the best in us. Thank you LOI.
In the Christian faith, in Corinthians 1:27, it is stated that ‘God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty.’ In the words of Pastor Les Ackie, ‘no matter how insignificant we may think we are, our influence will always exceed our expectations when we break free from the inhibitions that limit God’s willingness to use us.’ In the words of another great religion, Islam, brought to my attention by AbdurRashid Taylor, ‘It is He (God) who created death and life to test you as to which of you is best in deeds-and He is the Exalted in Might, the Forgiving.’ (Quran 67:2)