Your Bag of Nothing for Friday, January 10, 2024

 

  • This video of the LA wildfires is insane.

  • There’s nothing like a state funeral for a president. Solemn, sacred, pomp religious overtones, and the pageantry and distinctive elements of military tradition get me every time.
  • What was distinct about President Carter’s funeral was that two of his eulogies came from people who died in 2006 (President Gerald Ford) and 2021 (Vice-President Walter Mondale). Their respective sons delivered both. People forget how much Carter and Ford disliked each other and then became close friends post-presidency.
  • When I took BoyGeeding and DaughterGeeding to Washington, DC, two summers ago, I made sure we took in the National Cathedral. It was moving to stand on the spot where many dead presidents in coffins were placed for their funerals. It was also interesting to sit and pray in the pew seat sitting presidents have used to attend ceremonies and take in the history.

  • In case you didn’t know, the National Cathedral is an Episcopal Church. During the tour, the tour guide and I got into a fun conversation, and he mentioned that he thought one day I would be part of the Episcopal Church. And, in 2024, I was confirmed in an Episcopal church.
  • I had to research the friendship between Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter and Garth Brooks, who sang at both their funerals and celebrated his 100th birthday with him. It’s bewildering that John Lennon’s Imagine, the song that literally starts with “Imagine there’s no heaven,” was sung for one of the most devoutly religious presidents in history who taught Sunday school at his Baptist church for decades. This is what I found.

Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood developed a close friendship with President Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, through their mutual dedication to humanitarian efforts, particularly their collaboration with Habitat for Humanity. Over the years, the couples worked together on numerous projects, fostering a deep bond rooted in shared values of service and community building. – People

Their performance of John Lennon’s “Imagine” at both Rosalynn and Jimmy Carter’s funerals was a tribute to the Carters’ appreciation for the song. Despite its secular lyrics, including the line “Imagine there’s no heaven,” the song resonated with the Carters’ vision of peace and unity. It’s reported that President Carter had a particular fondness for “Imagine” and had requested Brooks to perform it at his funeral. – Tennessean

While some observers noted the contrast between the song’s secular message and the Carters’ devout Christian faith, the choice reflects the Carters’ broader humanitarian ideals and their hope for global harmony.

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