PSALM OF FREEDOM

PSALM OF FREEDOM

It may seem a long time ago since Nelson Mandela walked the road out of his prison. But it was one of those events that caught the imagination of people around the world. I remembered the Mandela trial, when he conducted his own defence against his accusers in South Africa. But freedom is much wider than just southern Africa. Here is a psalm, assuming it might be used in public, with different voices, and everyone joining in the chorus.

1. Nelson Mandela was freed from prison:

he walked out a leader on the stage of the world.

2. He'd been forced, in prison, to crush quarried stone:

compelled to do hard labour, though a political prisoner;

3. yet as a lawyer he'd been helping inmates:

others were released through his legal expertise,

4. and he befriended his warders also:

it wasn't their fault they had him in their care!

5. For twenty-seven years he was sustained in hope:

he knew the people of the world were on his side.

6. God bless Africa and guard her peoples:

God bless South Africa and give her hope.

7. Countries of the east have walked from their prisons:

Europeans have mastered oppressive governments;

8. new unity is coming after forty years of slavery:

the language of freedom brings hope to those used to living with lies.

9. God bless Europe and guide her leaders:

give us your freedom and courage to tackle our problems together.

10. In Britain we too can be narrow minded:

we don't always give the same freedom to our people -

11. living on an island can make us insular:

there've always been two nations divided from each other.

12. God bless our country and those who form opinion:

help us continue our search for freedom in our communities.