Lent

March 1, 2023
Scripture Reading: Psalm 112:1-9
Praise the Lord!
Happy are those who fear the Lord,
who greatly delight in his commandments.
Their descendants will be mighty in the land;
the generation of the upright will be blessed.
Wealth and riches are in their houses,
and their righteousness endures forever.
They rise in the darkness as a light for the upright;
they are gracious, merciful, and righteous.
It is well with those who deal generously and lend,
who conduct their affairs with justice.
For the righteous will never be moved;
they will be remembered forever.
They are not afraid of evil tidings;
their hearts are firm, secure in the Lord.
Their hearts are steady, they will not be afraid;
in the end they will look in triumph on their foes.
They have distributed freely, they have given to the poor;
their righteousness endures forever;
their horn is exalted in honor.

It was recently announced that former President Jimmy Carter, who has been under treatment for cancer for some time, has elected to forego any future treatment and receive hospice care. I thought of him as I read this scripture. Carter is viewed as an anomaly, a nice guy but generally a lackluster President. On his second day as president, Carter pardoned all Vietnam War draft evaders. His administration established the United States Department of Energy and the Department of Education. He also created a national energy policy that included conservation, price control, and new technology. Carter successfully pursued the Camp David Accords, the Panama Canal Treaties, and the second round of Strategic Arms Limitation Talks*. His presidency ended on the heels of the Iran hostage crisis, the 1979 energy crisis, the Three Mile Island accident, the Nicaraguan Revolution, and the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. All threats from outside sources and outside his control, but beyond the public’s patience in his dealing with the issues.

He of course, did not stop there. Out of office, he championed Habitat for Humanity. In 1982, he established the Carter Center to promote and expand human rights, which earned him a Nobel Peace Prize in 2002. He traveled extensively to conduct peace negotiations, monitor elections and further the eradication of infectious diseases*. I do think he is happy in the fear/awe of the Lord. And he is an excellent example of how we all must rise in the darkness as a light for the upright.

Prayer: Lord, guide us to be a light for the upright. Amen.

*https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jimmy_Carter#:~:text=On%20his%20second%20day%20as,price%20control%2C%20and%20new%20technology.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.