I’ve just submitted this week’s column.  It may seem like a light-weight, yet perhaps heavy enough to consider if a jazzy pop song presents a balance to the age-old question: What is the greatest love and how do we show it?

Looking for Lessons for Living the Greatest Love of All

Here’s a brief excerpt before it’s published Saturday:

“While driving to college classes in 1970’s Seattle, I often played a tape of George Benson singing the song, “The Greatest Love of All.” The lyrics were written by Linda Creed for the 1977 film, “The Greatest,” about Muhammad Ali. The song is a kind of anthem for self-reliance, with a genuine concern for the self-determination of the next generation.

“I believe the children are our future, teach them well and let them lead the way; show them all the beauty they possess inside; give them a sense of pride, to make it easier; let the children’s laughter remind us how we used to be.” This inspiring verse follows: “Everybody’s searching for a hero, someone to look up to, I never found anyone to fulfill my needs; a lonely place to be, so I learned to depend on me.” There’s a powerful sense of self-confidence in the words: “I decided long ago, Never to walk in anyone’s shadow; if I fail, if I succeed, at least I’ll live as I believe; no matter what they take from me, they can’t take away my dignity.” Finally, the chorus: “Because the greatest love of all, is happening to me, I found the greatest love of all inside of me.” (I recommend Whitney Houston’s rendition on YouTube).”