'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.
'Tis the gift to be loved and that love to return,
'Tis the gift to be taught and a richer gift to learn,
And when we expect of others what we try to live each day,
Then we'll all live together and we'll all learn to say,
'Tis the gift to have friends and a true friend to be,
'Tis the gift to think of others not to only think of "me",
And when we hear what others really think and really feel,
Then we'll all live together with a love that is real.
The Earth is our mother and the fullness thereof,
Her streets, her slums, as well as stars above.
Salvation is here where we laugh, where we cry,
Where we seek and love, where we live and die.
When true liberty is found,
By fear and by hate we will no more be bound.
In love and in light we will find our new birth
And in peace and freedom, redeem the Earth.
'tis a gift to be simple, 'tis a gift to be fair
'tis a gift to wake and breathe the morning air
and each day we walk on the path that we choose
'tis a gift we pray we never shall lose
He came at the end of lunch on Sunday morning as we concluded our weekend at the Notre Dame Spiritual Center. He stood before us, slim, frail in slacks and a sweater draped over his slightly hunched frame. And with a tender smile on his face, be proceeded to give us the history of the Shaker Village that was once the 300 acre property that the Brothers purchased in 1930. The song Simple Gifts was composed on this spiritual land lot. The special energy of the land continues to draw one into its reverent past. It presented to me the hope that the solitude of this land and the feeling of Earth Spirit will continue to be for years to come. And I hoped and prayed that this land’s spirit would someday cover the globe giving peace to all the lands we inhabit.
The Brother faced us at our lunch tables. With a simple smile, so easy for him to display, he started to sing. His voice was sweet and honest. His voice was pure but with age. The Brother's gestures were small. Simple. He closed his eyes, sang from his heart, turn – turn and bow like the song says. His body shined his joy and belief in the lyrics. It was simple. It was a gift. To witness such an honest man singing his love for spirit. It was a simple gift that could not fit into any Christmas stocking or be placed under any Christmas Tree. This gift of song from the heart was too big! – yet small enough to get to my heart and move my spirit. Tears soon flowed as the emotion built up inside. My throat squeezed shut to stop me from noisily crying. An occasional gasp for breath reminded me I had to breathe.
At the end of his joyful and freely given blessing of a song, he walked away. Our applause slowed his exit for a humble bow to us. To me, he seemed to just want to share a song and a little information about the place we stayed for our weekend retreat and our studies. I don’t think he realized how moved we would get by his simple gift. He was unconditionally singing his Truth. His expression of gratitude for our applause was humble. And he walked out of the meal room on his way back to do whatever his next mission for the day would be. I believe he walks a path with the Divine. And the Divine will walk with him where ever his life’s journey takes him.
He is blessed. And I feel blessed to be witness to this Simple Gift.
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