Ojos de Mandela (feat. Alejandro Sanz)
Beatriz Luengo
Finding Faith in the Eyes of Mandela
Beatriz Luengo's song "Ojos de Mandela," featuring Alejandro Sanz, is a poignant exploration of faith, doubt, and the search for divine presence in a world filled with suffering and injustice. The lyrics convey a deep sense of questioning and yearning for answers from a higher power, reflecting the universal human experience of grappling with the existence of God amidst life's hardships. The song opens with the singer expressing frustration at the perceived absence of God, who seems too busy to respond to the cries for peace and relief from suffering. This sentiment is encapsulated in the lines, "Te llamo y siempre sales ocupado / Buscando paz / Sobre las armas de un soldado." The imagery of a soldier's weapons juxtaposed with the search for peace highlights the paradox of seeking divine intervention in a world rife with conflict and pain.
As the song progresses, the singer's faith is juxtaposed with her doubts. Despite never having seen God directly, she feels a strong, almost tangible presence, akin to the feeling of love that is deeply felt but unseen. This is beautifully expressed in the lines, "Yo sí creo en ti / Aunque yo jamás te vi de frente / Como nunca vi el amor / Y lo siento muy presente." The mention of Mandela's eyes and the smile of the singer's mother as places where she sees God suggests that divinity can be found in acts of kindness, resilience, and love. Nelson Mandela, a symbol of peace and justice, and the nurturing smile of a mother, serve as powerful metaphors for the presence of the divine in human actions and relationships.
The song also touches on the theme of human suffering, questioning why innocent lives are lost to diseases like cancer and why the omnipresent God does not intervene more visibly. This is poignantly captured in the lines, "Veo el cáncer terminar / Con tantas vidas inocentes / Dime Dios, que dices ser omnipresente / ¿Si pelear con uñas, dientes / No te es suficiente?" The raw emotion in these questions underscores the struggle to reconcile faith with the harsh realities of life. Ultimately, "Ojos de Mandela" is a deeply reflective piece that invites listeners to find faith and divine presence in the everyday acts of love and resilience that surround them.