After serving two terms in the Georgia state legislature, Jimmy Carter ran for governor and was defeated in 1966 by Lester Maddox, whom he described as a "notorious segregationist who threatened with a pickax handle any potential black customers who approached his restaurant in Atlanta for service."
In his 2005 book, Our Endangered Values: America's Moral Crisis, Carter goes on to say that his faith was shaken by the victory of such a person. What did it all mean?
His sister told him that this tragedy should be the impetus for increased devotion to Christian living. Shortly afterwards, he began missionary work with another volunteer in the Springfield, Massachusetts area witnessing to many families from Puerto Rico. His volunteer partner was Rev. Eloy Cruz.
Carter reports that he was deeply moved by the way that Rev. Cruz connected with people and talked about his faith. When it came time for Carter and Cruz to go their separate ways, Carter asked him how he was able to be such an effective teacher.
Cruz replied, "You only need two loves in your life: for God, and for the person in front of you at any particular time."
This is one of the most powerful things that I have every read. From time to time, I think about this story and pull Rev. Cruz's mission phrase to the forefront as a reminder of how to be a better witness in everyday life.
With regard to Jimmy Carter, we know the rest of the story, as Paul Harvey used to say. Carter has achieved many things in his life, including the Nobel Peace Prize. And yet, after all of the time that has passed and all that he has done since 1966, he still recalls and holds up Rev. Cruz's simple and powerful words as a profound example of Christian living that has made a lasting impression upon his life.
I don't think that I'll forget them either.
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