In 1967, Dionne Warwick had a big hit with the Burt Bacharach and Hal David song, What’s it all about, Alfie? Bacharach claimed that it was his favorite song of all that he had written. The song asks:
“What’s it all about, Alfie? Is it just for the moment we live? What’s it all about when you sort it out, Alfie?”
The song has a haunting, melancholic cadence, that lulls you into a profoundly pensive place. In that state of mind, the words begin to resonate for anyone who’s feeling they have lost their way. It seems, that the human experience often delivers disappointment, disillusionment, and even suffering in moments we least expect. And sometimes, at the moment we believed we had life figured out. Such epochs demand we assess our desires. Is life all about finding security, having fun, being comfortable? Or is there a deeper, more noble purpose to it? Something higher…
These are certainly not new questions. Corresponding musings have undoubtedly exercised the minds of countless people thorough human history. Endless volumes of works have been written specifically exploring the meaning of life. I will not attempt to answer this question in today’s blog, but rather opine on several lines from Bacharach’s song.
“Are we meant to take more than we give?”
I see this question through the lens of my Shamanic work. I am trained in a tradition of shamanism practiced by the Q’ero Indians of Peru, descendants of the Incas. They have a philosophy known as “Ayni”, which equates to something known as the sacred art of reciprocity. Put simply, “when you give something, you are entitled to get something back, and when you get something you have an obligation to reciprocate and give something back.” Ayni, is much more however. It speaks to equality. The kind of equality that lifts all at the same time to ever-higher common heights, instead of pulling some up and others down.
What is really being described here is an exchange of energy. Whether we are aware of it or not, we are constantly sharing energy with each other, nature, the elements and the cosmos. Take for instance the exchange that goes on between us and the plant world. We need oxygen to survive. Trees and plants provide this for us. In return, trees and plants need carbon dioxide to survive. We provide this every time we exhale. Sacred reciprocity at work.
“Are we meant to be kind?”
Here I draw on my own life experiences, and perhaps, you too have had similar feelings. As we walk through our lives there are thoughtful and gentle moments that are more powerful than mere words can describe. Acts of kindness can create such moments. Kindness deepens our spirit and produces rewards that although invisible to the outside world, bring forth an alchemical change deep within our hearts. Perhaps Sufi mystic Rumi said it best:
“Your acts of kindness are iridescent wings of divine love, which linger and continue to uplift others long after your sharing.”
In letting others know they are noticed, valued and important I believe we create a ripple effect that literally has the potential to have no limits or bounds in its positive effects.
“I believe in love.”
Herein lies the core message of this song. Let’s be honest, finding meaning in our lives at times can become disconcerting. We can also get stuck in doubts, uncertain of what to believe. Yet there is still that “something” inside of us that knows somewhere there is a deeper purpose. Believing in love, both giving it and receiving is one of those purposes. The Dali Lama has stated:
“Love and compassion are necessities not luxuries. Without them humanity cannot survive.”
I believe this to be true. The song continues, “Until you find the love you’ve missed, you’re nothing, Alfie”. In other words, life has no meaning and we are of no value without love. This also, I believe to be true.
So, what’s it all about? At least for me, the three pillars of meaning that bring the greatest understanding to the human experience are giving, kindness, and love. Love being the most profound. Expressing love or compassion for others benefits not just the recipient of affection, but also the person who delivers it. In conclusion I leave you with a quote from a person I would not expect to reference in this blog post, but I believe he says it well, famed scientist, Carl Sagan said of love:
"For small creatures such as we the vastness is bearable only through love."
Amen brother... amen
Read lyrics here: https://genius.com/Burt-bacharach-alfie-lyrics
Listen to song here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YidCdaLPPR8
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