Lynn Jones: Be concerned about others
By Lynn Jones
Pete Seeger was a folk singer who for many years traveled across our country doing folk music concerts and leading sing-alongs. Seeger said that one of the songs that he often led the groups in singing was “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.” The song, which is a compelling expression of idealism, was made popular by Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz. Sung by a young Judy Garland, the song embodies the hopes and dreams of one who is looking for a bright land beyond the rainbow.
The haunting final words of the song are: “If lucky little bluebirds fly beyond the rainbow/ Why, oh why can’t I?” Seeger said that when he led the groups in singing the song, at the risk of musical sacrilege, he insisted that they change the words in that final line. Instead of singing, “Why, oh why can’t I?” he changed the words to, “Why can’t you and I?” Seeger explained his reason for the change. He said that the original line is too self-centered. We need to be concerned for more than ourselves. We need to have a deep and abiding concern for the people around us.
That comment by Seeger struck a responsive chord in me. We often focus on ourselves too much and on others too little. We even do it in our prayers. Jesus taught us in the Lord’s Prayer that, when we approach God in prayer, the breadth of our prayers needs to be considerably wider than it ordinarily is. We can’t approach God with just our concerns about ourselves. We must also bring to Him our concerns for others. Jesus said that we should pray, “Our Father which art in heaven. Hallowed by thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen!” The truth of our need for selflessness is driven home by the fact that there are no first-person-singular pronouns in the Lord’s Prayer. They are all first-person-plural pronouns.
The poet prayed that prayer and observed, “You cannot pray the Lord’s Prayer and even once say ‘I.’/ You cannot pray the Lord’s Prayer and even once say ‘My.’/ Nor can you pray the Lord’s Prayer and not pray for another./ And when you ask for daily bread, you must include your brother./ For others are included in each and every plea./ From the beginning to the end of it, it does not once say ‘Me.’
So, here’s to a rebirth of concern for people around us. We are reminded of that by Seeger’s version of one of the greatest songs ever sung, and especially by our Lord’s version of one of the greatest prayers ever prayed.
Lynn Jones is a retired pastor who lives in Oxford. He does supply preaching for churches in his area and often serves as an interim pastor. Jones is also an author, has written two books and writes a weekly newspaper column. He may be contacted at: kljones45@yahoo.com.
