Once a month or so, my godson, CK, answers this question from one of his dad’s: “Who is on your Mount Rushmore right now?” He replies with the names of three or four people in his life that he looks up to, people he who support, mentor, or inspire him to be the best person he can be. Sometimes CK chooses people like the Dalai Lama, and other times includes a close peer, a teacher, or favorite artist. I like the question. Who’s faces would I like to see carved into stone? Which persons represent the best of humanity? Who inspires me?

As I am a pastor, it will surprise no one that Jesus would be on my Mount Rushmore. I might also include Martin Luther King, Jr. and Ghandi. Each of these leaders shared ideals that changed the world. They all committed to nonviolence and peaceful resistance against injustice. Fearlessly, they called out abuses of power and worked to uplift all people—not just the wealthy and powerful. Their resolve to live by their ideals led them to endure; indeed, each was martyred for daring to preach unconditional love in action. They envisioned a world where all people could be treated with fairness and dignity, regardless of status. Through their words and actions, they demonstrated unwavering courage and a steadfast commitment to uplifting humanity.

I have been pondering a message series on the Beatitudes from the Sermon on the Mount and how we might explore them not only in a uniquely “Gardenesque” way, but also in a contemporary context. What do they mean to us in this moment in time? 

Mount Rushmore and the Sermon on the Mount are two landmarks that, at first glance, may seem un-connected. One is a literal monument, looming over the Black Hills, sculpted with the intent to honor figures who shaped a nation. The other represents a message that would change the world, delivered not in stone but in words—a call to live with humility, compassion, and love. Both ask us to reflect: Who do we look up to? What ideals do we want to carve into our lives?

When Jesus delivered the Sermon on the Mount, he wasn’t building a monument but offering a blueprint for a world where the poor in spirit find strength, the peacemakers find honor and respect, and those who hunger for justice are satiated. The message was not just a sermon—it was an invitation.

As I think about who would be on my personal Mount Rushmore, I ask myself: How do these ideals inspire me today? More importantly, how can they move us—not just to admire them, but to live them? I believe in the end it is not about who we honor in stone, but who we remember for the impact they made in the lives of others. It’s about how we contribute to their loving legacy through our actions, through the way we live, the way we vote, and the way we treat each other.



So—-who is on your Mount Rushmore? And how might the lessons of the Sermon on the Mount shape your legacy? How do you want to be remembered? What impact do you want to make?