Tyler Maxey’ s fascination with all things history began at an early age with a Presidential baseball that intrigued his interest of the faces he saw. Deeply connected to American history and many historic figures, Maxey has spent his whole life learning to connect the stories that have shaped the United States of America. This column aims to share those insights from Tyler Maxey, The History Buff. 

Election time is on the horizon. You can feel the political temperatures rising. Every four years, both political parties tell us how this upcoming election is the most important in American history. We hear the usual talking points about how the other side is threatening democracy, how one side is good and the other side is evil and how a vote for the opponent will mean the country will never be the same. If I am not careful I find myself slipping into this way of thinking too. It is so easy to villainize the other side and to minimize the things we have in common. In these times, it is also easy to forget that God is always at work and uses people, even people I disagree with, for his own purposes. An example of this is found in the life of President Jimmy Carter, who turns 100 on October 1.

If I were to ask the students of Fresno Christian who Jimmy Carter is, I believe I would get two different responses. The first response would be, “I have no idea who that is.” The second response would be that he was the 39th president of the United States and one of the country’s worst.

I am in the group who would have said the latter, but in researching Carter’s 100th birthday, I have concluded that there is more to the story. Carter should not be defined by the success of his presidency because the purpose of his life has been to follow Jesus and serve others, especially those less fortunate than him.

“I have learned that our greatest blessings come when we are able to improve the lives of others, and this is especially true when those others are desperately poor or in need,” Carter said as he retired from 35 years of serving at Habitat for Humanity.

Carter lived this principle to a tee. After losing the election of 1980, he started the Carter Foundation, a foundation dedicated to human rights and helping people less fortunate than him. In 1984, Carter joined Habitat for Humanity, an organization that builds houses for people who are of lower incomes or homeless. One of the strongest examples of Jimmy Carter’s humility and faith is that he taught Sunday School at Maranatha Baptist Church in Georgia for over 40 years, which included some Sundays when he was in office.

Carter’s purpose in life was summarized by the verse he quoted in his inaugural address, Micah 6:8, “He has shown you, O man, what is good, and what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”

Carter’s life reflects this verse as he walked with God throughout his whole life, no matter how difficult it may have been. Carter’s first priority was to love God, and his second was to help people less fortunate than him.

As Jesus told his disciples in Mark 8:35, “For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospels will save it.” During this election season, I am trying to remember Jesus’ words. Looking at the full life of Jimmy Carter helps me remember that God’s work isn’t unique to any political party. In fact, while I think it is important to vote and be involved politically, it is imperative for me to remember that my first priority is to follow Jesus. I am thankful that the life of Jimmy Carter has pointed me away from divisive political rhetoric and back to Jesus.

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39th President of the United States, Jimmy Carter.

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