The end of the beginning

July 1, 2023

Today begins a new 30-day Gandhi challenge. July starts the second half of the year; the end is now closer than the beginning. Gandhi’s two decades in South Africa ended in July 1914, and he returned home to move into the second half of his life, nonviolently fighting for Indian independence. The weapon he carried, satyagraha, had been crafted and honed in South Africa in 1906.

In July of that year, Sgt-Major Mohandas Gandhi found himself on the battlefield during the Zulu Rebellion, managing a company of Indian stretcher bearers. The long marches across the frontier of Natal gave him time to think about his place in the order of things. It was the last time he would take the field as a soldier of the British army.

In July of 1913, Gandhi undertook his first week-long fast, developing another arrow in the quiver of tools he would bring home to India. In the decades to come, his fasts would enable him to motivate millions of his countrymen for social change. While these 30-day challenges always have an optional 3-day fast, July offers a 3-, 5-, and 7-day option for anyone interested.

Another important experience Gandhi had in South Africa was building a new community in 1910; I’ll continue and conclude that series. Tolstoy Farm’s remote location 21 miles from Johannesburg necessitated lots of walking for those who wanted to go into town. Gandhi’s ability to walk 50 miles in one day inspired by own attempt in July 2017.

This month, I’ll be writing about these lessons of Gandhi’s, as well as others. Besides abstaining from intoxicants, I also plan to walk 50 miles, commemorating the walk I set out on July 4, 2017, reading Gandhi’s autobiography for the first time. I came up short that day, but it only strengthened my resolve to do so on subsequent attempts. If at first you don’t succeed, keep trying!

What personal challenges are you taking on this month?