ON THE PASSING OF A GOOD MAN
ON THE PASSING OF A GOOD MAN
Jimmy Carter died on Sunday, December 29, 2024. He was a man of honor and goodness, a man of deep faith, and he lived his values through his actions each day.
Tributes and praise for his century of leadership and service, heartfelt expressions of grief at his passing and gratitude for his life abound. Each perspective captures a bit of the “truth” about President Carter. While there is so much to be said of such a long life rich with accomplishment, Carter would want us to see each tribute as a reminder that there is so much more yet to be done.
He lived a life characterized by directionality – every day for Jimmy Carter was an opportunity to improve, a challenge to do his best, guided always by his faith. Those values which gave direction to his striving are also the driving values of the Global Ethic of the Parliament of the World’s Religions and the fundamental values which unite the faiths of the world.
He lived his commitment to Peace, to Respect for Life, to Justice in all its forms — especially economic justice — to Truthfulness, to Human Rights including the fundamental right to a healthy environment, and to the Right of Future Generations to an Earth of possibility and beauty undiminished by our greed and ignorance.
As we consider his passing, we remember this: to Jimmy Carter, faith without action was worse than meaningless, and we face the unforgiving reality of his recurring question to himself – did you do your best today?
And like so many over the years who had the challenge of working with him, we can hear his soft yet steely voice saying: “Get to the point and get back to work.”
The point is that because of the articulate example of his life, we resolve to get closer each day to our very best, to live our beliefs, to improve the world with our actions.
And so, we go back to work. As we do, we share in the grief for the death of a unique man, and express our condolences to all who loved him, especially his family.
We send not just condolences, however, but our Commitment to act on our common
values.
- James Earl Carter, Jr was 39th President of the United States of America. President Carter was a
supporter of the worldwide interfaith movement. His 2009 address to the Parliament of the World’s
Religions at its Convening in Melbourne, Australia can be found at the Carter Center website here.
