FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT The Purposeful Life
THE 32ND PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES did not want to be defined by his disability. Nor did he want to be known for his accomplishments. He wanted to be known for his enemies. What does this mean? President Roosevelt made enemies because of what he stood for. Roosevelt was basically saying that he wanted to be known for living up to his purpose in life.
Roosevelt was stricken midlife with polio, costing him the use of his legs. It also nearly cost him his political career. He overcame those challenges, built a polio treatment center in Georgia, and later served as president for 13 years, making him the longest-serving president of the United States.
Roosevelt had a strong sense of purpose. He faced the Great Depression by taking decisive action that put millions of Americans to work, yet people worried that he wanted to become an American dictator. Roosevelt committed the United States to military action against the Nazis in World War II, yet some felt that Roosevelt was too friendly with Soviet premier Joseph Stalin.
“I ask you to judge me by the enemies I have made”
Agree or disagree with Roosevelt’s politics, he stood resolutely for what he believed in. He knew his purpose. And he made enemies.
Jesus knew his purpose and refused to be distracted or defined by anyone or anything else. In Mark 10:45, Jesus reminded the disciples that he had come to reconcile humanity to God. And he accomplished his purpose because Jesus’ enemies broke his body and ended his earthly life.