Belief-Action

At times, due to the widening gap between Belief and Action, I tone down the Left side of the equation albeit still reaching.

Who wouldn’t want to live a fuller version of the ideal self?

Getting things done. Praised by the people. Projects completed, under promised and over delivered.

As it turns out, with so many balls in the air, we quickly find out we’re not magicians.

Balls get dropped and relationships neglected. Wild ride. I remember learning from a Chinese proverb e.g. ” a journey of a thousand miles begins…” Then today, laid to rest at his last, was our Nation’s leader, Nobel Prize winner and needless to mention, a carpenter at heart (Habitat for Humanity). Peter, Paul and Mary would be proud, with their folk songs, among which besides Puff the Magic Dragon, is “If I had a hammer”.

It’s been a while since we saw Amy Carter on Television. I remembered how close the family was, when issues of global importance was discussed at their dinner table (s/t about asking his daughter).

Then the crisis at the US Embassy in Tehran, with Terry Anderson blind fold. What a decade it was, just right after we celebrated our Bi-Centennial at 1976 ( I watched the fireworks from Philadelphia, courtesy of Bob, a camp counselor colleague, who let me stay with him in town, overnight from leave at Camp Akiba, Mt Poconos).

President Carter was truly a humanitarian. I could only volunteer for a few summers away from school, then contributed whatever little to Habitat. He meanwhile set quite a bar, in integrity, humility and love in action.

We’re forever in debt to his lived life, its transparency and truthfulness. I remember watching Charlie Rose, who asked ” what’s your regret?” question. Mr Carter’s answer:” I wished there had been more helicopters ” (for the rescue). Me too, on my way out of Saigon on its last day. We all have but not harbor regrets. We all have that Belief-Action gap. His was much narrower than mine. RIP.