Day 257 / 108 In The Presence of Greatness

Plains, GA Sunny 64 Degrees

Two and half years ago, when we had an offer on our house and we were approaching the jumping off point to this life; sitting in a Sunday School class being led by Jimmy Carter was not even a remote thought in the deepest recesses my mind. Being in church at all is something I normally avoid, so this morning was quite a morning for this Baptist raised, yoga practicing, meditating, tree hugger who stays as far away from organized religion as possible.

[caption id="attachment_1223" align="alignleft" width="300"] Champ and I with Mr. and Mrs Carter after church services[/caption]

That’s the cool part of this life. You just never know what kind of experience lies around the corner or whom you may meet along the way. This morning as I sat in Maranatha Baptist Church in President Carters Sunday School Class I knew I was in the presence of greatness. We have a handful of those moments in life if we are lucky. One realizes without warning that they are in a room with a person who has made an incredible impact during their time in this life, with their generosity and kindness. He is truly a person speaking softly and carrying a big stick. His stick being the impact he leaves on those who encounter him. After my three-hour experience this morning, it is clear why he has been such a successful mediator for peace throughout his life.

[caption id="attachment_1219" align="alignleft" width="225"] President Carter taking in the car show.[/caption]

My first encounter with him was Saturday at the 6^th Annual Classic Car Show in Plains. He was walking around looking at cars and talking to people he knew just like any other person that day, except of course for the two gorilla-size secret service agents who were nearby watching everything and everyone. I was looking at a really cool ’39 Coupe and as I turned away, I nearly ran into him. He smiled, said ‘Hello’ shook my hand, chuckled and moved on. I stood there for a moment trying to digest the fact that I had been blindsided by the encounter. I stood back and watched him for a bit as he moved along, ran into people he had known most of his life, some were showing their cars, and I marveled at the mutual respect that exists between him and the Plains citizens. They allow him to come out in public and be as normal as someone like he can be. In turn he is outgoing, and accessible to people he encounters along the way.

This morning he talked about kindness in his lesson from the Book of Ruth. He talked about our current times of indifference, hatred, fear of those unlike us and shared his optimism that the country can and will ‘right’ itself once again. He also interjected a powerful lesson in latent racism or rather a superiority complex and exists among whites, even those like me who don’t consider themselves racist. He asked the class. “What year did women gain the right to vote?” Most of us chimed 1920 of course. He smiled and calmly said, “Wrong, that is when white women earned the right to vote.” Black women couldn’t vote until 1965 when the Voting Rights Act was passed.”  Even Google gets it wrong if you enter his question in the search bar.  It was a stark lesson in self-awareness and how certain people see the world as a just and fair place because they don’t see the picture outside of their own experience. It was powerful especially in a deep south Sunday school class. I left with a reminder to look at the world through a broader lens.

I was in 6^th grade when he was elected to the Presidency. I lived in a very Republican family and geographical area for that matter. My young adolescent take away’s from his Presidency were that the economy tanked, gas prices and unemployment increased substantially and everyone made fun of his big toothy grin. I have a big toothy grin, I kind of think it’s a good trait. It was later in my adulthood when I noticed him as a humanitarian, tireless advocate for the have-nots and of course his work with Habitat for Humanity.  We visited his Presidential Library last summer when we came to Atlanta for a concert, I was reminded of all the good he did during his time in office. Initiating the departments of energy and education. SALT II and the Camp David Peace Treaty are just some of the good he did that got lost in my mind under the negative things. I sought out the volunteer position here as a way to come and spend time in the place that nurtured him and learn more about the history of the place responsible for this incredible human being.

In the world of RV Volunteering,  today was a truly unique experience. As a volunteer for the National Park, that bears his name, we were given preferential treatment. We sat with other Park Staff and a couple of local volunteers in the 8^th row.  We entered through a separate door, got good seats in the sanctuary, not in the overflow room watching it on a television. We didn’t have to arrive a 3 a.m. as many did to be assured a seat. The church areas filled to capacity so nearly 500 people were there. 350 in the Sanctuary and 150 in the fellowship hall watching it on a monitor. He made it a point to go into the Fellowship Hall and talk in person with those who were seated there.  That meant the town almost doubled its population for several hours this morning. Our experience was easily obtained. Others traveled from far away, spent money on the trip, hotels etc. just to be here. We travelled as well, I suppose and are committed here for three months so I guess we did come a long way just on a different plane. Jimmy Carter wasn’t the only reason we are here but meeting him it is certainly a nice perk! It is truly unique that the person who’s life is portrayed in the exhibits is still alive and present.

Until next time…