“I have one life and one chance to make it count for something . . . I'm free to choose what that something is, and the something I've chosen is my faith. Now, my faith goes beyond theology and religion and requires considerable work and effort. My faith demands — this is not optional — my faith demands that I do whatever I can, wherever I am, whenever I can, for as long as I can with whatever I have to try to make a difference.”
These words by former President Jimmy Carter have been posted, tweeted and quoted countless times this week, following the announcement last weekend that he is entering home hospice care at the age of 98 in Plains, Georgia.
Some of you in the First Baptist family had the pleasure of knowing Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter and their family when they were members of this congregation 45 years ago. During the 48 months of his term, President Carter participated in Sunday worship at First Baptist more than 70 times. Once a month, he taught Sunday School to FBC’s Couples Class.
Photo caption: “Jimmy Carter attends a Habitat for Humanity home building site in the Ivy City neighborhood of Washington, DC October 4, 2010. [Photo by Larry Downing/Reuters]
Your friendship and Christian kinship meant a great deal to the Carters while they were in Washington. “You have made our lives normal lives,” President Carter said at the annual banquet of the Couples Class in October 1977. “You have given us stability in a position that is inherently sometimes unstable. A President of our country can be an isolated person. You have taken us in, and we are indebted to you. Thank you very much.”
President and Mrs. Carter have embodied the spirit and way of Christ, both in the spotlight of national and global affairs and in their tiny hometown, among the church family and lifelong friends who’ve known them best.
Carter’s work for peace, justice, equality, and democracy have flowed from the person he is at a core: a Christ follower. His life has been characterized by service, humility, integrity, honesty, simplicity, and compassion—especially for those for whom life is a daily struggle. He will be remembered as much for his commitment to building houses for the working poor as for having occupied the most powerful position in the world.
Jimmy Carter’s life and legacy remind me of those signal words from Psalm 90: “Teach us to number our days, that we may use wisely all the time we have.” Well done, Brother Jimmy, you good and faithful servant.
In the Great Love,
