One of the strangest things about adulthood is noticing how many prominent and influential people are fading away. I’m an “elder millennial,” so the first U.S. president I remember was Ronald Reagan.. When he passed, I felt conflicted. I generally thought poorly of his administration, but I also felt sad. It was like a little piece of my childhood died with him.
Jimmy Carter was before my time, and I always knew him as a “former president.” What stood out—so very, very admirably—was his unwavering dedication to serving others after leaving office. All my life, Jimmy Carter was out there: looking for ways to help vulnerable people, promoting peace, and building homes for those in need.
That he once held the title of President of the United States of America seemed almost secondary, an interesting line on a résumé. For months now, we knew Carter was in hospice care and that his life would soon be coming to an end.
Now that he’s gone, I find myself admiring him even more. He passed peacefully, having accomplished more than most could ever imagine. And in his passing, there seems to be broad consensus that he was the best former president of our lifetime.
I’m also sad because the world was better with him in it. People like Jimmy Carter are extraordinarily rare. I can’t imagine any former president following their political career with such generosity, humanity, or humility.