It was 1975, September in Toronto. I had just moved to Newfoundland from Toronto to join my parents in St. John’s….a place that made me feel like it was 1957. No cable TV to start with… and how could that be for an 18 year old. No McDonald’s had come to the Island yet… A&W was there but… and the theatres were like, well, 1957.

Life at The Salvation Army was good, very full, very active, and lots of teenagers. My first encounter with someone who asked me where I was to! What? And why do you put an S on every other word?

September brought relief as a large group of teens traveled to the North American Youth Congress in Toronto as Newfoundland delegates. That weekend a new Gowans and Larsson musicale was unveiled – Spirit – it rang out the song “what does the Spirit say to the churches?”…not a bad question for today. But the song that seemed to really resonate with the teens was a declaration, not a question. We sang “To be like Jesus, this hope possesses me”.

Many, many made a declaration of faith that weekend as we sang this one particular song.

For many reasons, I turn back to that memory to answer the question, what principles define you. More than being a Salvationists, or an officer, or a defined member of the clergy, this one declaration comes back to mind. I want to be like Jesus.

Am I? Well, that’s another question. I hope I am more and more as I grow in grace and mercy. I hope that my attitudes and values are more in line, but I think I have a way to go yet.

But as you know, what will tell is behaviour, not sentiment. What we do and HOW we do it matters. I think how we spend our money is one of the biggest giveaways that tell who we are. And who do we spend time with? Can we engage with people we don’t agree with, can we like the unlikeable.

Jesus spent a great deal of time talking about helping widows and orphans. Why? Because of how vulnerable they are, now lonely they can be.

What defines you? What song or scripture informed the forming of your values?