Simple Gifts

There is a lovely Shaker melody, dance, and song from about the mid-19th Century called "Simple Gifts."  The idea of simple gifts is profound to me.  The most precious gifts are so simple:  a song, a lingering salad lunch with honest conversation, a late-night hug from a friend, the delight of a child, a story...

An African friend asked us "What does Africa have to offer as a gift?"  I think the question may have come from a desire for reciprocity; to have a mutual relationship, rather than be the object of continual charity.  Well, Africa has given me so many simple gifts...but, completely profound gifts...gifts that make me cherish and live every part of my life better.  I pray, that as we all offer our simple gifts, a book, a dress, an afternoon of time, a box of crayons, a year of vacation time, that the meaning of the gift will be profound.

The lyrics to the dance-song are below. I hope each of you finds many simple gifts in your day.  Let's all meet in the valley of love and delight.

'Tis the gift to be simple, 'tis the gift to be free,

'Tis the gift to come down where we ought to be,

And when we find ourselves in the place just right,

'Twill be in the valley of love and delight.

When true simplicity is gain'd,

To bow and to bend we shan't be asham'd,

To turn, turn will be our delight,

Till by turning, turning we come round right.