Character Counts

 

ChARacTER counts!

Dear Friends

One of the highlights, if not the highlight of our road trip to the east coast a couple of years ago, was a visit to Plains, Georgia. The pictures above include the first signs we saw; Kathleen in the presidential suite, among several rooms above an antique store where we spent the night (as president and Mrs. Carter had); and me standing at the train station where “Mr. Jimmy” as he known by the locals, was welcomed back on his return to Plains.

Grace and goodness. Decency and dignity. Those were among the many adjectives I heard over and over while watching the breaking news of President Jimmy Carter’s death this afternoon. As I have said previously, character counts, character matters, especially among leaders with large platforms. Why? Because character affects one’s decisions and actions, and character affects those who listen and watch what one says and does. We should expect the best for the country we all love.

Sadly, President Carter’s death represents the end of an era in terms of what we now expect and accept from politicians and politics. The last election certainly would suggest that character has been ignored or put even further to the side when choosing a leader. But a quote from President Carter reminds us of the Great Commandment we’ve had all along and can be our guide going forward if we choose to follow it.

“You only have to have two loves in your life:

for God, and for the person in front of you at any particular time.”

Every day we have chances to live those words. We are all far from perfect in doing that, but we hope, with God’s help, that we can do our best.

Let’s hope this moment will help remind us that ChARacTER counts. 

Make character count again.

As someone has said, “Keep hope alive in 2025”.

John

Really?

 

Dear Friends

After having already driven by an overflowing parking lot at the post office three times during the past two weeks, (to purchase Christmas stamps), I finally took a chance when I saw a few empty parking places and pulled in last Friday.

Alas! The line was still way too long. But I decided to wait. Fifteen minutes later and now about 10^th in line and closer to the one postal worker (there are four stations!) I saw a crude sign hastily taped to a counter: “Sorry we are all out of Holiday Stamps. We hope to get more next week”.

My frustration mounting, I started thinking of the nicest thing I could say when it was my turn. When I finally reached the one employee on duty, I said, “It’s a shame you have to work alone.” I also asked why he was alone during this busy season. He said, “a couple of people are on vacation”. (I thought to myself, “Really? Well, that makes a lot of sense!!!) My blood pressure rising, I then suggested as politely as I could that they put the sign about being out of “Holiday” stamps at the front door!  He said that was a good idea. I haven’t driven by again to see if that happened.

In any case, I asked, “What stamps do you have?”  I said no to the flag stamp offered, and the only other choices were, and I’m not kidding, Nancy Reagan and Betty Ford!!! And then he said, “Oh, here is one more”. Hesitant, but feeling the pressure of people waiting behind me, and seeing some words about peace, liberty and safety, I said, “Okay, I’ll take some of those”.

When I got to the car I read the whole message: “12 Colonies Unite in Protest” and then “We ask for but Peace, Liberty, and Safety”. When I googled to find out what this stamp was all about, I discovered it was part of a message from the First Continental Congress to King George!

So now, how do I make a political stamp into something about Christmas? Beyond welcoming the “Prince of PEACE”, I can give thanks that for freedom (LIBERTY), Christ has set us free.” (Galatians 5:1) and pray “Hold me up, and I shall be SAFE” (Psalm 119:117)

Clearly, I need to get on a waiting list for 2025 Christmas stamps now, and wait for a drone to deliver them. But I might check back and see if a new shipment of holiday stamps arrive.

John