What’s it all about, Alfie Evans?

Cute, angelic, little, lovable Alfie Evans has died. Only yesterday, he was still alive, with the world watching how his poignant drama would unfold. Now the powers of government and medicine conspired to deny him life. Today, he is gone. This morning, his father, Thomas, twitted: My gladiator lay down his shield and gained his wings at 02:30. Pope Francis tweeted that he was deeply moved by the death of little Alfie, expressing the sentiment many are feeling.

What’s it all about, Alfie? Is it just for the moment we live?

Life is not only a precious gift. It is also the only reality we know. If not for life, it does not matter whether the universe, or anything at all, exists or not. If we are not here who cares if there were no galaxies or stars or planets. If we are not alive, nothing is possible. And because we are alive, everything is possible. Thus, for this reason, we must respect and reverence life.

Alfie is but a baby, unable to speak for himself and seen as a burden. He was helpless before the wisdom of respectable people: the doctors, the lawyers, the judge.  It was unconscionable how these honorable men were all in agreement that Alfie did not deserve to live. He was going to die anyway. Why prolong his agony? It is the same thinking that has given way to abortion being acceptable in almost all countries. That euthanasia is increasingly becoming acceptable. That it is legal to execute criminals. That the concepts of just war and preemptive strikes are used to justify the many wars raging in the world today, killing thousands of people and turning millions more into homeless refugees. This is the culture of death, which all Popes of recent times have been preaching against.

And if only fools are kind, Alfie, then I guess it is wise to be cruel.
And if life belongs only to the strong, Alfie,
what will you lend on an old golden rule?

So, in this culture of death, who then decides who will die and who will live? Sadly, this decision is often determined by the unholy trinity of wealth, power and fame. It is all about looking out for number one. Every man to himself. Hatred is in control. Anger rules. Greed is in control. Selfishness reigns.

What’s it all about when you sort it out, Alfie?
Are we meant to take more than we give or are we meant to be kind?

There is one and only one, principle that governs the universe. It is love. The universe came to be because of love. We were given the gift of live because of love. And we can live in peace and harmony only through love. Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that.
~ Martin Luther King Jr.

I know there’s something much more,
Something even non-believers can believe in
I believe in love, Alfie
Without true love we just exist, Alfie
Until you find the love you’ve missed you’re nothing, Alfie

Complete lyrics of the song “Alfie:”

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?
Are we meant to take more than we give
Or are we meant to be kind?
And if only fools are kind, Alfie
Then I guess it is wise to be cruel
And if life belongs only to the strong, Alfie
What will you lend on an old golden rule?
As sure as I believe there’s a heaven above, Alfie
I know there’s something much more,
Something even non-believers can believe in
I believe in love, Alfie
Without true love we just exist, Alfie
Until you find the love you’ve missed you’re nothing, Alfie
When you walk let your heart lead the way
And you’ll find love any day, Alfie
Alfie