If you asked me for a list of people who inspire me you would quickly see a common thread. They are all people who have remained true to a personal vision of a better world and persevered through incredible hardships in the pursuit of that goal. People like Viktor Frankl, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Corrie ten Boom, Mother Teresa, Nelson Mandela and Aung San Suu Kyi. All of them worked with great determination to achieve a better outcome for people who were suffering, and did so in the face of strong opposition and at great personal cost. What I find most remarkable is that in spite of terrible things they endured, they remained positive, compassionate and in good humour.
When elected president of South Africa, Nelson Mandela had the power and opportunity to take revenge on his former oppressors. But he didn't. In a remarkable act of grace he chose the way of forgiveness and established the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. In his memoir he explained why. "As I walked out the door toward the gate that would lead to my freedom, I knew if I didn't leave my bitterness and hatred behind, I'd still be in prison."
I believe that everyone has the potential to do great things. But I also acknowledge that for many of us the gritty, niggly realities of daily life can erode our capacity to even imagine achieving something really great, let alone sustain and nurture the hope required to see it through. But what a difference it makes when people do.
Which is why I found Kim Gillespie's recent editorial on the inaugural Pride of New Zealand awards a real encouragement. Good for you Kim in acknowledging Julie King from Tokoroa who won the national Community Spirit Award for her work in mobilising her community to make a stand on the harmful effects of synthetic cannabis; and Murupara's Maera Maki-Anderson, who won the Emergency Services Award for "single-handedly saving the Kaingaroa Forest Fire Brigade with her recruitment efforts". Both of these women had the vision and the passion to keep going when many others would have given up. That's what real leaders do.
