President Carter

It was unrealistic to believe that President Jimmy Carter could live forever. Whether you admire his 77 years of marriage, or the week of volunteer work he participated in 5 years ago, AFTER falling at his home and blackening his eye, it is hard to deny that he walked the walk.  To me he was a beacon of light that has guided me quietly, almost unbeknownst to me.  It is not until later in his life as stories of his declining health became more common that I became cognizant of the impact of his work.  His age or health hadn’t concerned me; he was just always out there, doing good during a time when good, in many ways, was in short supply.

Many will criticize him for his Presidency; it certainly wasn’t perfect, but it didn’t always follow the rules of politics.  He was a man of values.  At a time when others were peddling fear, he was trying to cultivate a world that valued and prioritized human rights.  He fought for human rights in places that many believed didn’t deserve the consideration.

         As an avid consumer of current events at the ripe age of 10 years old, I knew he was different.  He was a man with a country drawl from a southern state and there was something mentioned about peanuts.  He just seemed…well, different.  He was criticized, as Presidents often are but even at that my sense was that he was special.

As an adult and a student of history for the last 40 years, I appreciate the stances that he took.  He taught me an especially important lesson. When you fight for what is good for people, especially those that are marginalized, and others fight against you, then you must be doing something right.  He stood up for the groups that needed a champion and did the work to make those people’s lives better. He reminds me of my dad, a compliment to both men.  They were men of simple Christian values who applied their experiences to love and lead others. 

His public service, faith filled life and his value of helping others will be a part of his legacy.  He has truly left the world a better place from whence he came.  If even one person changes their life as a result of his example, he will have succeeded.  At the very least he is worth a minute of thoughtful appreciation.  Step out of your political realm, no matter the side and recognize him as part of our larger story; as a man that tethered his life as a Christian and an American that exemplified stewardship.  I believe that his final lesson, as unintentional as it may have been, is this; we need to search for our better angels until we find them and help others do the same.

Rest In Peace Mr. President and know that you helped make the world a better place.