What a morning! Whipsawed in a few short minutes from despair to a divine lightness of being. From feeling discouraged, by the divergent beliefs of a group of fellow Christians, to the inverse: elation at the story of a life well lived through Jesus. The morning began with an article in the Atlantic magazine: “The Army of God Comes Out of the Shadows.” It describes a militaristic set of beliefs, riding under the banner of Christianity, and embraced by millions of Americans. Its focus, the story explains, “is to construct a Kingdom meant to destroy the secular state, with equal rights for all, and replace it with a system in which Christianity is supreme.” Its adherents include the person next to us in the grocery line, as well as those occupying the very highest offices of power in government and elsewhere. It describes a vision of America that seems incompatible with what Jesus preached- equality, mercy and inclusion. A few short minutes after reading that story, my faith was unexpectedly redeemed by the televised celebration of a Christian life worthy of admiration- President Jimmy Carter, at his state funeral at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. The ceremony filled me with light and joy and hope.
The service was marked by a series of eloquent eulogies of the former President’s life- beautiful illustrations of the positive power of Jesus’ message of love and acceptance, that ordered Carter's steps. I would recommend listening to as much of the service as you have time for, if you want powerful evidence of the power of faith. My dismay at the Atlantic story was not concern over the fragility of our Democracy, but rather for the nascent seekers of this world- those just beginning to hear God’s call. If my faith was less solidified than it is, the strident message of this group of Christians would have sent me in the opposite direction. But the spiritual aura of Carter’s funeral, the witness born and testimony delivered by those who knew him best, lifted me, reconfirming a deeply held belief- the power of faith to change the world.
Carter worked tirelessly over the course of his long and fruitful life for social justice, peace, fairness and inclusion- as well as being an unabashed Christian evangelist. Through it all, he walked humbly and put others before himself. His efforts are credited with eradicating Guinea-worm disease, a parasitic infection spread through contaminated drinking water. He fed the hungry and sheltered the homeless- being a strong advocate and volunteer homebuilder for Habitat for Humanity. Speaker after speaker shared anecdotes of how his choices and actions were the fruit of his faith: lifting minorities and women, caring for the environment, working for peace globally, telling the truth- even when it was not politically expedient. As the most powerful leader in the world, choosing restraint and reconciliation over retribution. He and his beloved wife Rosalynn tended to the needs of the poorest among us, “the least of these,” who Jesus calls us to recognize, acknowledge and care for.
The ceremony was an effective antidote to the Atlantic story! The remembrances came from different perspectives- grandchildren, colleagues, friends, but all agreed that Carter was a good and faithful servant of God. More than one speaker cited these two Scriptural passages in particular as the underpinnings of Carter’s journey: Micha 6: “What does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”
And Mark 12: Regarding the Greatest Commandment, Jesus said: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”
As President Biden noted in his remarks, this commandment that Jesus cites as the greatest, is easy to say but not so simple to do. Former Ambassador to the United Nations Andrew Young, in his homily, quoted his friend, Dr. Martin Luther King, about what makes a great leader. King said it requires a tough mind and tender heart. Carter had both. So did Jesus. And it’s not a bad example for us either. When we find ourselves deflated by this world, especially when it concerns something we hold fast to, like our faith, look for the light. It’s always there to find. We can open our eyes to the evidence of the love that God has for all of us, and the power that it unlocks in this life. The song pairing is “Be a Candle.” Until next time, stay safe, be brave and keep looking for the light.
Be a Candle
If you’re in darkness and you can’t see
go be a candle, set yourself free
If you’re in darkness and you can’t see
go be a candle, set yourself free
Be a candle, light up the night
push back the darkness
turn on your light
be a candle, light up the night
push back the darkness
turn on your light
There was a darkness
now there is light
yeah I was lost but
now I’m alright
There was a darkness
now there is light
yeah I was lost but
now I’m alright
Be a candle, light up the night…
Come down and join us
we’re gathering here
we’re lighting candles
there’s nothing to fear
we are lighting candles
we’re gathering here
we are together
and He is near
Be a candle, light up the night…
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