Yesterday I drove my oldest child to college, and this morning I helped her move into her dorm. A momentous and poignant moment in her life, and in mine. At our hotel last night, we happened to watch a documentary on Ted Kennedy.  Amidst the emotions of the moment, the references to lessons the Kennedy’s had learned from their parents, Joe and Rose, struck me with particular impact. Ted Kennedy grew up being taught that his life would be measured by the contributions he made to society. He was taught that public service is an honorable and patriotic pursuit, to be held in esteem and respected. He was taught that it mattered, and that it was worth the effort. In an interview with Barbara Walters soon after his second brother had been assassinated, she reflected on the Kennedy commitment to life public service, then turned and asked him if it was worth it given the high price it had exacted? Ted was almost visibly taken aback, and you could see a rare glimpse of the pain still fresh in him. He paused, and then softly but decidedly responded, “Yes, yes I believe it is.”

The passing of Ted Kennedy is a bigger national event than I had thought. It’s bigger and has more of an impact on me than I expected or realized. In the solitude of my drive back from my daughter’s new college home, I listened and was moved by the eulogies given by his two sons. The funeral rites are being shown live as I write this on cable stations across the dial. The reexamination of Kennedy’s life upon his death has brought to light for me not just the depth of importance this man had to our nation, but the significance of his passing. A radio commentator compared it to the end of the Fellowship of the Ring, as the last of the ringbearers passed into the west. A little corny it seemed, but like the mythic images of Camelot, based on some sense of inspiration lost.

There have been all too few moments of national inspiration, or even of partisan inspiration if you must qualify it, in my lifetime. Kennedys eulogizing their fallen brothers and speaking of their dreams. Martin Luther King. Obama’s nomination speech.

But even Barack Obama seemed small on this day.

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Ted Kennedy was a politician, but he was driven to do good by guiding principles that were fundamental to his philosophy, his politics, and his faith. At his graveside, a letter was read from Kennedy to the Pope; a last petition on his own behalf, admitting his shortcomings and requesting blessing from the leader of Kennedy’s church. In this letter he includes his life’s work to achieve universal health care for all Americans as part of his petition, evidence of his devotion to the catholic principles of helping those less fortunate. A young Kennedy maybe 12 years old led the intercessions in the mass, including praying that what his grandpa called “the  cause of his life” on healthcare reform be granted, lord hear his prayer. Can you imagine any other politician today including such a petition or appeal for an issue? A posthumous appeal for the employee free choice act? For privatizing social security? A cap on carbon emissions? It’s not only the issues that fall short, it’s the lack of passion and commitment to issues so fundamental and unalienable that it transcends poll-driven position statements.

Kennedy had that inherent passion and commitment, to work to help those less fortunate in a variety of ways that presented themselves. From civil rights to minimum wages, to education to health care, Ted never needed to run a poll to guide his positions, nor did he need a wordsmith to dull the edges of rhetoric to avoid offending segments of the voting public. He simply steered by his principles, and followed his heart.

These qualities are missing in our public sector today. While Ted was eulogized as a person in a deeply emotional and moving way by his sons today, there was no younger brother, or any other standard-bearer to give a eulogy that “kept the dream alive”.

I was born at a hospital in Hyannis within walking distance of the Kennedy compound, just days after JFK’s election as president. For my entire life, I have always carried a deep respect for public service that was grounded in the principles inspired by the Kennedys and the vision that they so eloquently communicated in word, and in more importantly, portrayed in action.

He once famously said, “For all those whose cares have been our concern, the work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives, and the dream shall never die.”

For all those whose cares have been Sen. Kennedy’s concern, the work does indeed remain. Let us hope it goes on. In a cruel irony, these are critical days for health care, and seem to be pivotal times for our nation as our party and President Obama’s principles and commitments come into question.

He rephrased his earlier words when endorsing Obama at the convention last summer, saying, “The work begins anew. The hope rises again. And the dream lives on.”

Who will inspire us to that calling now that the lion rests?