Simple Pleasures

[Jack4]

13 hours ago, BarbaraTherese said:

That first cup of coffee in the morning.

This. 

5 hours ago, Amppax said:

Reading a good book in a comfy chair. 

And this.

[IgnatiusofLoyola]

I think about simplicity a lot. Over the past 10 years, God has humbled me in multiple ways, and many times it is painful. When it hurts a lot I turn to an old American Shaker song about the virtues of simplicity and humility.

Protestants know the tune as "Lord of the Dance," but I like the original lyrics much better.

Simple Gifts

'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.

 

This is a dance song, so the reference to "turning" last two lines is probably a dance instruction. Personally, I like to think of this "turning" as working (and praying) to change myself so that I can embrace the simplicity to which I am being called.

Below is a link to a YouTube video with the version of "Simple Gifts" composed by Aaron Copland. It is only a few minutes long. Note: The system will not let me post or embed a YouTube link, so I added dashes at the beginning and the end. If you copy the link, with the dashes, into YouTube, then delete the dashes, and press the Go button, the video should come up. The melody will probably be familiar to you.

--https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XPAbNOusi4U--

Edited September 15, 2016 by IgnatiusofLoyola

[Not A Real Name]

22 hours ago, Peace said:

Heh. But in which order?

Both at the same time.

[Gabriela]

Just now, Not A Real Name said:

Both at the same time.