Thread by @Oom_Rugby

here is a story James tell me just after he had the suicide attempt in 2001.

he went to stay at his mothers home to get away from the media and the glaring. nobody could get hold of him and most people did not even know where he was. then the phone ring and his mother answer it

the person on the line say it is the office of the president and Mr Mandela want to talk to James. james know it was not true , so he tell his mother to put the phone down. then the phone ring again and the same person say the president want to talk to James

so James get on the line suspiciously , and then the president say to him “hi James how are you?”

james could not believe that someone know where he is, so he did not think it is him. But then after a minute he quickly realise it was Mr Mandela on the phone...

the President want to know if James is ok and what is going on. james was going through a few things in his life , but a big issue he admit was to be away from the game and the spotlight , and he was not sure of his identity.

the President listen to him , and then he say:

something along the line of - “I know what it feel like if you think people has forgotten about you. I went through it as well in my time in prison”

in that moment James say he swallow hard and get a instant perspective. how big is his problems really?

mr Mandela say - James you still have a big role to play and even a responsibility. you are from the class of ‘95 , and even if you think people has forgotten about you ,they have not. You still have much to give and you are still a hero to many. that is your identity

James say it was the moment that change his life. the fact that mr Mandela bother to have concern about him, and then somehow get his people to track him down. and then to deliver such a perspective. a guy who went through much much worse. that is when James stood up again.