“Only the mistakes have been mine.”

This, by Malcolm X, will forever remain very close to my heart. He first accredits God with any success that he may have in revealing the truth, and about mistakes, he only holds himself and just himself responsible. It is huge. And beautiful.

I mean, this one sentence, i would want on my tombstone.

“Only the mistakes have been mine.”

Once i was discussing Malcolm w/ my Professor. He talked about the possibility of forgiveness we see through Malcolm’s example, and i mentioned that even before the possibility of being forgiven, what Malcolm leaves us w/ is the possibility of forgiving ourselves. Our own selves.

I can’t put it as eloquenctly as my teacher but he said that through Malcolm’s sincerity & integrity, we see the willingness of self-critique & self-transformation. Even to the point of negating our beliefs. Like Malcolm did. Accepted the mistakes. Compromised on his ideals.

Teacher went on, that Malcolm was not afraid to address his shortcomings. His ability to speak truth to power was like no one else’s. When he encountered the truth, he changed himself. His life was a life of re-invention. In his death, he became larger than life.

He let the force of truth blind him. He never stopped growing. He never stopped loving. His love was an urgent love. His love for his people couldn’t wait. Even when he had given up wanting to live. He still loved, and he still continued to learn. To give.

My teacher then reminded us of another story of redemption, forgiveness & truth. The story of Hurr. Who redeemed himself on his last day. Chose the beauty of truth. Became immortal.

“Hurr fida pyasa jo Shah par ho gaya
Ai salami, qatra tha samandar ho gaya”

Samandar hogaya.

Our class was ended with this beautiful prayer that will always stay with me.

“Malcolm starts out as a stranger, yet he redeems himself. We too have the capacity to be Malcolm X, and to be Hurr. May we too be blinded by the force of truth no matter where it comes from.”

Amen.

People like Hurr and Malcolm are God’s gifts to us. Reminders of striving to improve, to learn, to speak truth to power & to transform. To redeem ourselves.
Another gift of God is teachers who make you see and appreciate the light in a way no one else could show you.

Grateful.