I met Rosalynn Carter in 2009. At the time, I was working at Scott and White Healthcare in Temple, Texas with a group working to support caregivers of Alzheimer’s or dementia family members. My incredible boss won the big annual award from Mrs. Carter’s center (The Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregivers), and we traveled to the awards ceremony. I remember snapping a picture with her and trying to be cool because, well, it’s a former first lady. But, mainly because it’s, well, Mrs. Carter.
I had been a huge fan of Mr. and Mrs. Carter for a while at the time (still am) because of their global health work. But, this was in 2009 before I was doing anything in global health - I was just dreaming about it. So, to see them actually do global health was inspiring to me. Another thing struck me though. They were also people of deep faith, teaching Sunday school at their small church for decades. Just like normal people. They were anything but normal, though, weren’t they? Or perhaps they were simply normal people doing ordinary things - but over time maybe it became extraordinary.
At least it did when it came to guinea worm eradication.
In 1986, there were 3.5 million cases of guinea worm each year in Africa and Asia. Like most neglected tropical diseases, it’s a disease affecting the poor the most, and spread through contaminated water or eating undercooked fish. In 2023, there are 7 cases - globally.
Although it’s not a highly fatal disease, it can last a long time, leaving the person unable to work, walk, or support their family. It’s also preventable. So, it’s an equity issue or an issue of the margins. Why did the Carters decide to tackle it then? In an NPR article, Carter recalled “It’s a despicable disease. And it was in such remote villages that no one wanted to take on the task. So we decided to take it on.” This was a quote from 1986. I think the Carters knew guinea worm was a proxy for something else - poverty, lack of health access, the inability to provide for your family, the inability to thrive, inequity. In other words, they found one of the diseases that depicted the margin of the margins, where no one else wanted to go or tackle - and started there.
I watched parts of Mrs. Carter’s funeral today and was struck by her amazing accomplishments. She visited over 120 countries. She was an activist and an advocate for issues well before those issues were the “cool” thing to do. She was a champion of human rights and mental health. She was also a mom, a grand- and great-grandma. She was married for 77 years. Her grandson told a funny story of the family flying somewhere on Delta for vacation years ago. On the flight, Mrs. Carter pulled out a tupperware of pimento cheese and a loaf of bread and started making sandwiches for the family - and then made some for others on the plane. Could you imagine getting a sandwich from a former first lady?
She seemed as normal as could be from these stories. Making sandwiches, raising children, noticing the poor. And, yet she was extraordinary in living out what people dream about. At least what I was dreaming about when I met her as a new mom in 2009. (I would fly home from that trip to celebrate my daughter’s first birthday party.) Now I’m living that dream in my own way and there’s not a day that goes by that I’m not thankful to be doing what I’m doing.
To me, Mrs. Carter’s funeral was a reminder that our lives are not made extraordinary because of power or privilege or wealth, but by loving, living equity, and showing compassion. By knowing that the margins are the starting point. And perhaps feeding hungry people because that’s who you are. That sounds like neighboring to me.
Happy Neighbor Tuesday, friends.
-Emily
Thank you, Emily. I watched most of the funeral too. I never met the Carters but wished I had. I live in Belton, Texas---sound familiar?
I am 70 years old and recently retired. We Christians, and especially my fellow Southern Baptists, have lost our minds. I just read Tim Alberta’s excerpt from his new book in The Atlantic. He is a “pastor’s kid” like I am, and what has happened to “evangelicals” as you well know is beyond belief. I am still in shock.
I have often been embarrassed to be a Baptist through the years, and especially the last 8 years or so(Robert Jeffress anyone?), but at least I could point to Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter and say, that is who Christians, even Baptist Christians, are--really. I voted for him twice, and I have never regretted it.
Thanks for remembering Mrs. Carter today. We sure need more Christ centered and other centered Christians like her in 2023. Too, too many “Christians” today seem to be the most self centered, cruel and downright hateful people around. How sad is that, and what a terrible witness to the unbelieving world.
Thanks!