John Buttrick writes from his Vermont Folk Rocker in his Concord home, Minds Crossing. He can be reached at johndbuttrick@gmail.com

We hear a lot about the legacy of politicians today. It seems to be assumed that every statesman or stateswoman has a strong motivation to build a legacy of accomplishments that will prove them noteworthy among their peers.

What contributions will they give to the health and welfare of the country and what positive influences will their character leave for the next generation? The questions are asked in the context of seeking to predict what history will say about the person.

However, building a legacy may be more important to analysts and historians than to some of those being considered. For example, President Carter focused on serving those in need, not on building a legacy. His legacy was bestowed on him by others.

Last week, at the memorial service in the Washington Cathedral, we witnessed a sharp contrast between the characters of two presidents of the United States – one who served with humility and one who seeks to upstage all other presidents and politicians by drawing attention to himself, claiming a legacy to be the greatest president ever.

The memorial service for President Carter was a powerful testimony of service resulting in an emerging legacy of historical significance. The Rev. Jesse Jackson remembered President Carter as one who “lived his faith, proving that humility, service, and love are the most powerful forces for change.”

Preston Love observed, “What stayed with me was somewhat of a desire to emulate his style, to emulate his honesty and forthrightness.” Eulogy after eulogy testified to President Carter’s humility, commitment to serving others, honesty, and working for justice.

The people in the Washington Cathedral were emotionally permeated with praise for Jimmy Carter’s tireless work as a peacemaker and humanitarian – a life spent lifting the oppressed and healing divisions. He did not seek to build a legacy. It is being awarded by others.

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In that same cathedral sat President Donald Trump. I pondered, would it be possible for President Trump to be impacted by those testimonies of the power of humility and love? Would it be possible for him to be swayed by being present among those who were remembering the ways President Carter had touched their lives? Hearing these testimonies gave him the opening to consider the power and influence of humility and love. Perhaps he might begin to recognize that it was not necessary to get his way with brash belligerent bullying and repeated lies until they become the truth.

Seated in the second row behind President Biden and Vice President Harris in that packed cathedral, perhaps President Trump has been given the option to consider letting go of the lust for greatness to accept the accolades for serving with humility.

Of course, such a dramatic transformation of character would require President Trump to give up his unwavering determination to overestimate his knowledge and his practice of gaslighting, manipulating people to question their own perceptions or memories.

Trump supporters excuse his sexual misconduct and illegal activities by either saying they did not happen, they do not affect his ability to govern, or he has only done what many other politicians and leaders have done. In reality, it would be extremely difficult to exchange these perceptions for honesty. Not only Trump, but all of us would have to support the possibility that Trump has it in him to be touched by the call to humility, love, and service.

So, why am I pondering the extremely unlikely possibility that our president will govern with humility and care for others? It is to remind myself that in spite of all his apparent flaws, Donald Trump, as a human being, has the capacity to exchange self-aggrandizement and the demand for blind loyalty to himself for partnership with all human beings. That is part of the truth, even if very unlikely.

To move through the next four years of Trump’s presidency, I find it important to respect the office of the President of the United States. However, the rest is to continue to advocate for a legacy of best policies for our country.

As Shakespeare once said, “There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy.”