Thought for Today
Genesis 1:26 Then God said, "Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the wild animals of the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth."
Genesis 3:17 And to the man he said, "Because you have listened to the voice of your wife, and have eaten of the tree about which I commanded you, 'You shall not eat of it,' cursed is the ground because of you; in toil you shall eat of it all the days of your life;
Luke 10:27 He answered, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself."
Matthew 28:19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age."
"’Alfie’ is a song by Burt Bacharach and Hal David, written to explore the meaning of life and human kindness, inspired by the 1966 film of the same name.” (Copilot Search)
1966 was a seminal year in my life. I graduated from college and a week later married my high school sweetheart, to whom I am (thankfully) still married. I cannot remember whether or not I ever saw the movie Alfie, but, the words of that song often echo in my mind. I often hear in my Dionne Warwick’s plaintive voice singing, "What's it all about, Alfie? Is it just for the moment we live? Or are we meant to be kind?" I frequently ask myself that question, “What’s it all about?”
In one sense, my answer changes with every season of my life. In another sense, however, the answer always remains the same. Certainly, my primary concerns each day change with those lifecycle seasons. By the beginning of 1967, I was firmly established in my first job and Greta and I began to look at houses for our first home together. By 1969, we were parents to our first child. My answer to ‘what’s it all about’ in 1969 would seem strangely out of place for my life in 2026.
Through the intervening years, there have been many changes in those basic aspects of house and home. Although I hesitate to describe any of them as ‘toil,’ there have been other jobs and other companies for whom I have worked. Over those years we have moved several times. For a short period of time we lived in Baton Rouge, LA. Ultimately, we moved to Tewksbury, MA where we now reside. I have worked in other cities, onsite assignments sometimes lasting months. Even the nature of my first career changed over time from being an engineer to being a project manager.
Our family grew from that first child to a second child. We were blessed with 4 grandchildren. We suffered the loss of our youngest grandchild. There were youth sports leagues for our children and grandchildren. There were other youth activities, scouting programs, music lessons, etc. Through it all, I still heard, "What's it all about, Alfie? Is it just for the moment we live? Or are we meant to be kind?" As a coach, an assistant coach, as a scout leader, a band parent and a Sunday School teacher, those words still echoed.
Ultimately, at 58, I heard God’s call to ministry. Although I am one of God’s least musical children, I heard another song, “I, who made the stars of night/I will make their darkness bright/Who will bear my light to them?/Whom shall I send?” I answered, “Here I am, Lord/Is it I, Lord?/I have heard you calling in the night/I will go Lord, if You lead me/I will hold Your people in my heart.” God led me through seminary, through ordination exams and committee examinations and ultimately through being called to serve a congregation.
Is my answer today, as a pastor of a wonderful congregation the same as it was in 1966? "What's it all about, Alfie? Is it just for the moment we live? Or are we meant to be kind?" Through it all, I still look to scriptures for the overarching answer to that question. If you have heard me preach or read these Thoughts, you know I look to Micah 6:8, John 3:16-17, Luke 10:27, Ephesians 2:8 and other verses for the answer.
We are meant to be kind . . .but much more than kind. We are meant to do justice, love kindness, walk humbly with God, love God, love each other, and to have faith. Our God-given life is all about believing, loving and trusting our Creator God. May it ever be so.
Read your Bible, literally take God’s word to heart, trust God,
Pastor Ray