Guard Your Heart
How did Nelson Mandela manage to walk out of jail with forgiveness in his heart despite
having suffered years of persecution? The movie Invictus provides a possible answer to that
question: According to that movie there was a poem by the same name, Invictus by Willian
Henley, which inspired him to treat the guards, and other people that were responsible for
his detention, with forgiveness, respect and even love. The line in the poem that stood out
to him stated:
“….I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul…”
Just like Victor Frankl, during the Second World War, Madiba realised that he was in control
of his own inner world, his emotions and the choices that he makes. He deliberately decided
to exchange his anger and desire for revenge for love and forgiveness. This attitude reflects
the content of the first bible text that I taught my children at a very young age (Prov 4:23):
“Above all, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”
This is a warning: Our heart holds the secret to the rest of our lives. It determines our
success, joy and personal fulfilment or indeed the lack thereof. The thoughts and emotions
that we bury in our hearts, determine our behaviour: whether it is positive or negative,
uplifting or destructive.
There is one thing that aggravates me, not only about myself but also other people and
institutions. It is something that is destroying people, religions and academic and other
establishments. This concept shapes us and determines the outcome of our lives. It is
something that can either help or hinder us to make better and more effective decisions.
The strange thing about this presence in our lives, is that we do not seem to recognise it or
pay attention to it! What am I talking about? I am referring to our presuppositions: our
preconceived ideas, presumptions, emotional ties that we are not prepared to discard and
biases that we cling to regarding ourselves, others and organisations. Every day I observe
how people ignore their own or other people’s presuppositions, seemingly oblivious to the
possible results or tragedy that can ensue as a result of it.
We can apply this idea to almost any area of our lives. In marriages severe emotional pain
can occur when one partner decides that the other is just so and so and there is no room for
alternative convictions. Or when one partner is convinced that a certain course of action is
best regarding the upbringing of children and the other partner disagrees and refuses to
consider any alternatives.
It seems to me that it is more important for people (including myself) to cling to their
convictions and beliefs than to ascertain what the truth really is and adapt accordingly.
The area in which I observe this most frequently is when it comes to disputes regarding faith
and unbelief. Individuals who believe in God are often so stubborn and obstinate that no
one can convince them to think intelligently or at least freshly regarding their beliefs. They
believe that their “faith” is sanctioned by the Supernatural and therefore untouchable. They
are armed with their favourite bible verses and there is nothing anyone can say or do to convince them differently regarding certain issues. What they however often do not recognise or want to admit, is that they have presuppositions. They selectively read bible passages that they feel attracted to and ignore those that make them feel uncomfortable.Their conversation often begin with: “Yes, but the Bible says…” In this manner some people will argue in favour of or against “apartheid” or gay rights; some groups will fight for the use of contemporary music in the church and some will vehemently oppose it; some will embrace certain types of spirituality and other will reject it. What all of them however have in common is their tenacious persistence to adhere to their preconceived notions. They sit in their small groups, “listen” to each other and smile sweetly whilst clinging steadfastly totheir own opinions.
This occurrence is, however, not only a Christian phenomenon but a human phenomenon.
In the corner of the sceptics and atheists, things are no better. Anti-faith presuppositions
are very difficult to break down. I regularly hear of people who “have turned their back on
faith for good”, agnostics who claim that they will “never be able to believe in the Bible
again” or “freethinkers” who have decided that anyone who believes is either stupid or
arrogantly naïve. The more one moves in these circles, the more one realises that these
individuals are just as biased and narrow minded as the Christians that they point fingers to.
They use the sugar-coated language of openness and broad-mindedness, when they have in
fact already decided not only what they want to believe but especially what they do not
want to believe!
Could this be what the writer of proverbs had in mind when he wrote:
“Above all, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”