Everything…and a Little Bit More 

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away I saw the movie, Fiddler On the Roof. Actually it was 1971 at the Martin Cinerama located near the St. Louis Playboy Club on Lindell Boulevard. (Yes, believe it or not —there was a Playboy Club in St. Louis from 1962-1985.)

Fiddler on the Roof was an Oscar-winning adaptation of the Broadway musical about life among the Jewish community of a pre-revolutionary Russian village. The main character, Tevye, was a poor milkman, determined to find good husbands for his five daughters. In the process he consults the traditional matchmaker — and also often has a word with God.

Several years after originally seeing the movie and after my first divorce when I became a Christ follower, I watched a VCR of the movie. The words and play on words from one of the characters, Perchik caught my eye —or should I say ear?

Perchik wants to marry one of Tevye’s daughters, Hodel. Perchik is a Marxist with liberal interpretation of the scriptures, but he is still a devout Jew. I want to share these lines from the movie to make a point. This is Perchik speaking to Hodel (For the best results, try to read it with a Russian-Yidish accent…Are we havin a good time now?)

“I used to tell myself,

That I had everything,

But that was only half true,

I had an aim in life,

And that was everything,

But now I even have you.

I have,

Something that I would die for,

Something that I would live for too-

Yes!

Now I have everything,

Not only everything,

I have a little bit more

Besides having everything,

I know what everything’s for.”

(Time to get serious now.) Do you have something to die for and something to live  for? James Denny, a famous Scottish theologian and preacher once said, “The man who has nothing to die for has nothing to live for; he does not know what life is.”

I’ve been to Africa eight times. Five of those trips were missionary trips to the Kibera Slum near Nairobi, Kenya. Kibera is the largest slum in Africa. Several hundred thousand people live in densely crowded mud huts. (Check out the photos on Wikipedia and elsewhere on the internet.) Diseases caused by poor hygiene are prevalent. A great majority living in the slum lack access to basic services including plumbing, electricity, running water, and medical care. When I visited, the percentage of residents with HIV was estimated to be 50%. There are several gangs, but no police.

While I was in Kenya, I spent time with Pastor Imbumi Matutu and his wife, Martha. They are truly among the most inspiring people I have ever met. Martha once told me of a time when she was mugged while heading with her two young boys to their little church in Kibera. The men roughed her up and threaten to kill her if they caught her going to the church again. Needless to say, she was rattled, but that night she said she asked herself, “Is this just something I do —or is this my calling from God?”

The next morning she went back to their church in Kibera, and she is still going back several days a week. That’s the power of recognizing and accepting your God-given mission. It gives her something to die for and something to live for.

I would say, Martha has everything. Not only everything, she has a little bit more —besides having everything, she knows what everything is for.

I suggest, if you don’t yet have everything, do what God’s word says, “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matthew 6:33). And Jesus said, “Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends” (Revelation 3:20 NLT).

Oy Vey…What do you think? Share your thoughts on the FATC FORUM about this or whatever is on your mind —maybe some Irish or Mexican or mole stories. Have some fun writing. I know I do and I would really like to hear from you. It’s lonely out here in the woods. Remember…It isn’t just about the fly fishing.

John Muckerman

FATC Inspirational and Leadership Lead

PS: Don’t miss Jason Randall’s class on Wednesday evening, November 12 at The Commons in Chesterfield. Jason knows a lot about how to make the best Moscow Mules and he also knows a few things about fly fishing.