Fifty years ago today The Beatles appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show and continued a British influence on the American musical scene. The song “All You Need Is Love” was one of many songs that the four lads from Liverpool contributed on subsequent albums as they made their way into music history. It was written after they were asked to write a song with a message that could be understood by everyone. Some of the lyrics are below:

Nothing you can know that isn’t known
Nothing you can see that isn’t shown
Nowhere you can be that isn’t where you’re meant to be
It’s easy

All you need is love
All you need is love
All you need is love, love
Love is all you need

This week many couples will give gifts for Valentine’s Day and express their love to one another. Imagine if everyone in the world decided every day, in every moment, to express love to one another — what would happen if we focused on love and saw ways to respect the divine spark in each other, that we are all created in the image of God? In the children’s sermon Love Letter, we hear how Paul sought to mend fences among quarreling Christians by giving a description of what love is. A love that doesn’t hold grudges. A love that is unconditional. Imagine that. Believe it can be. Envision a world where Love is in the heart of all people. Now take responsibility to do your part — it starts with each of us.

Knock knock. Who’s there? Love. Love who? Everyone.

Image from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All_You_Need_Is_Love