The old aphorism “You tend to find what you look for,” is a link of encouragement for me. First, let’s acknowledge that it can also have a negative connotation—and examples are abundant; if you look for the negative, you will find it; same for errors; and for debauchery. But I digress.
I am convinced that there is a deep hunger in our hearts for exemplary leadership and guidance. It is something akin to what St. Augustine once said; “There is a God-shaped vacuum in every (one) that only Christ can fill.” It does not suggest that we all are wearisome tagalongs. We long for exemplary character among our “friends, Romans, and countrymen,” creating an environment of character, compassion, and commitment.
On a different scale, isn’t that a purpose of science fairs, sports events, and contests? I recently watched a sports event where there was a magic moment after it ended; The head coaches of each team met on the field, embraced and chatted. One had won. The other had lost. But in the camera close up, with something of a lingering camera shot, it was clear that the two coaches respected each other, and appreciated the good work each put on the field.
I cannot forget exemplary behavior we saw—at the Tokyo Olympics. An American and a Botswanan runner, each tripped and fell near the finish line; Jewett and Amos. They turned to each other, helped one another up, put their arms around each other and finished the heat together. One commentator said, They were 54 seconds behind the winner. But in this case, time didn’t matter. That is exemplary behavior. And that one time is not singular. There is a rich mine of similar stories of character, caring, and compassion—in sports and otherwise—showing exemplary metal of basic humanity.
There is a story in the Old Testament of a man of exemplary character; he had the courage to call out the debauchery of king David. You remember the story; While the Israelites were battling the Ammonites, David stayed in the Palace alone. He was tempted when he saw Bathsheba next door, naked. David sent men to take (not invite) her to him (an early #Me Too event?). David’s moral compass took a nosedive into depravity; forced Sex, chicanery, deception, and murder ensued. The Prophet Nathan went to his king and cornered him. He told a parable that was a graphic representation of David’s descent into debasement. Upon hearting this story, David was horrified, and said the man was demonic, and should be dealt with dramatically. Nathan told David.“You are that man!” The Prophet Nathan was about as Exemplary as one can get. By the way, Psalm 51 graphically recalls David’s redemption.
I view President Jimmy Carter (politics aside,) as an exemplary person; in character, compassion, caring, and a life well lived. His exemplary character tends to increase almost daily. Oh, I know; in today’s social climate, no one escapes criticism. Even good works can be conflicted, or accused of being so; a few decades ago, Professor Will Cuppy wrote a book, “The Decline and Fall of Practically Everybody.” An extensively researched, as well as a whimsy tome, Cuppy found unusually funny flaws (some not that funny) in the great people of history. However, flawed as we all are, it is important that we identify and exalt exemplary people among us; not to glamorize them, but to affirm and magnify the standards they represented.
And. It is not always the famous whose exemplary lives’ greatly matter. I can think of many who never made it in the books, the press— likely not even into into their county newspaper! Grandmother Jewel Moore. Ms Hazel Bedgood. Dr. Bird Daniel. Rev. Jack Key. Rev. Dr. Jerry Phillips. That’s a few of mine. Now, it’s your turn—