

It’s 4 pm on Sunday, December 29, 2024. I just learned of the death of former President Jimmy Carter. My eyes are filled with tears for the life, the legacy of a man who ran the race, kept the faith, and showed us through his actions what it meant to be Christ-like. He didn’t just talk the talk. He walked the walk.
In 1976 I was a senior majoring in church music at William Carey College (now University), a Southern Baptist school in Hattiesburg. I had three stickers on my Datsun station wagon: a parking sticker, an Ichthus fish, and a green Jimmy Carter for President bumper sticker. That’s the only time I ever had someone tear a bumper sticker off my car. To this day I do not understand why anyone would do such a thing.
I supported Carter because of who he was and how he embodied his faith. A progressive Southern Baptist, Carter was not the stereotypical fire and brimstone Southern Baptist, and nor was I. To me he was and remains one of the most prominent persons in my lifetime. He lived his faith with authenticity and humility.
Many point to his presidency as being inadequate, unsuccessful, and failed. But his presidency was not lackluster. There were many significant achievements he was responsible for, the greatest of which may have been the peace accords he negotiated between Egypt and Israel. He established the Department of Education and the Department of Energy. He had solar panels installed on the White House, which Ronald Reagan had taken down. He selected more women for federal positions than any other president, including nominating Ruth Bader Ginsberg to the Supreme Court.
Carter is most revered for the 43 years after leaving office. He and his wife Rosalyn served the poor at home and abroad. Their active participation in building houses through Habitat for Humanity is unparalleled. His prolific authorship spoke truth for justice, care, kindness, and the responsibility of those who have to those who have not.
The Carter’s marriage was one to be admired and respected. For 77 years they showed us what faithfulness was and what it meant to be equal partners. They had spirited disagreements, but they always loved and respected each other. They had no reason not to.
In 1995 I was training to run a marathon for the Leukemia Society in support of my dear late friend Barbara Oliver. I was to raise a few thousand dollars to be able to make the trip to the Napa Valley and bring Barbara along with me. I reached out to many people, including the Carters. I didn’t get any monetary support from Mississippi officials, but to my utter amazement I received a check for $25, handwritten, hand addressed, and signed by Rosalyn Carter, postmarked from Plains, Georgia. That’s just the kind of people they were.
A remarkable event in his early life was when he was serving on a submarine. A storm swept him off the deck of the sub, then swept him back on the deck, reminiscent of Jonah who, according to the Bible, was swallowed by a big fish and regurgitated onshore near Nineveh.
Carter’s mother, Miss Lillian Carter as she was known, once said, “Sometimes, when I look at my children, I say to myself ‘Lillian, you should have remained a virgin’.” The world is a much better place because she gave up her virginity.
Carter felt as much at home—maybe more—with the common people than with the Washington, D.C. elite. He was called the “Rock and Roll” president for his association with musicians like The Allman Brothers, Bob Dylan, and Willie Nelson. In fact, Carter credits The Allman Brothers for helping him win the presidency. I heard Carter in an interview talk about one of Willie Nelson’s visits to the White House. Carter was told that Willie and some stranger had been smoking pot on the roof. Carter said, “That was no stranger. That was one of my sons.”
Psalm 34:14 says “Seek peace and pursue it.” Carter did just that. He said, “My faith demands—this is not optional—my faith demands that I do whatever I can, wherever I can, whenever I can, for as long as I can with whatever I have to try to make a difference.”
James Earl Carter, you made a difference in this world and in the life of this man. You always will.
…and that’s the View from The Balcony.
Randy Weeks is a Licensed Professional Counselor, Board Certified Telemental Health Provider, Certified Shamanic Life Coach, ordained minister, singer-songwriter, actor, and writer.
