Desmond Tutu, born in 1931, was a prominent South African Anglican archbishop and anti-apartheid and human rights activist. As a black man growing up under the oppressive system of apartheid, he used his position within the church to become a fearless and vocal critic of the government. 

He famously led nonviolent protests and advocated for international sanctions against the apartheid regime. His efforts were recognized globally in 1984 when he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. 

Following the end of apartheid, Tutu was appointed chairman of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission by President Nelson Mandela. In this role, he oversaw investigations into human rights abuses from the era, promoting a philosophy of restorative justice and healing for a divided nation. His joyful spirit, moral clarity, and philosophy of "Ubuntu"—the belief that we are all connected—made him a global icon of peace and reconciliation until his death in 2021. 

Disturb us, O Lord 

when we are too well-pleased with ourselves  
when our dreams have come true because we dreamed too little,  
because we sailed too close to the shore. 

Disturb us, O Lord 

when with the abundance of things we possess,  
we have lost our thirst for the water of life  
when, having fallen in love with time,  
we have ceased to dream of eternity  
and in our efforts to build a new earth,  
we have allowed our vision of Heaven to grow dim. 

Stir us, O Lord 

to dare more boldly, to venture into wider seas  
where storms show Thy mastery,  
where losing sight of land, we shall find the stars. 

In the name of Him who pushed back the horizons of our hopes  
and invited the brave to follow. 

Amen