Today, we all lead busy lives. Life appeals to us from many directions saying, "Attend to me here." Theater, home, school and club are calling to us, "Give me your thoughts." We let the loudest voices fill our ears. Many of us are living not bad, but frittered lives — split, scattered, uncoordinated. We must let first things come first.

Thoughts by the late Rev. Paul Osumi are selected weekly by his family.