Thursday, June 2, 2011

Can a skeptic's cynic be simple?

I'm thinking, yeah...I am.

Alison Krauss has a hauntingly beautiful voice and Yo-yo Ma...well....





Wikipedia states:
Simple Gifts" is a Shaker song written and composed in 1848 by Elder Joseph Brackett.
It has endured many inaccurate descriptions. Though often classified as an anonymous Shaker hymn or as a work song, it is better classified as a dance song




"Simple Gifts" was written by Elder Joseph while he was at the Shaker community in Alfred, Maine. These are the lyrics to his one-verse song:
'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 bend we shan't be asham'd,
To turn, turn will be our delight,
Till by turning, turning we come 'round right.[2]
Several Shaker manuscripts indicate that this is a "Dancing Song" or a "Quick Dance." The references to "turning" in the last two lines have been identified as dance instructions.[1]

I need to dance more.  There is a freedom there, when we move our bodies freely, instead of within the confines of daily chores.  It's a way of saying thank you for having been given life and limb.

To me, this is the most gentle song on earth.  With the most gentle artists performing it.


When true simplicity is gain'd,
To bow and bend we shan't be asham'd,
To turn, turn will be our delight,
Till by turning, turning we come 'round right.[2]


I don't think they are talking about dance.  Think of when the bible refers to a "stiff-necked people", who refuse to change.  This is a call to be in sync with the true rhythms of life, to change rather than hold on to ideas and thoughts and feelings as though they were a part of us. 

If we grow...we change.
If we change...we grow.

No longer stiff-necked, we can bow and bend and change and change some more.  Life is a living thing, instead of a veneration of obstinancy. 

Breathe...and listen with your soul.




Now...go out and slay some dragons! Start small ;)

Picture courtesy of http://brucemctague.com/slaying-dragons  not sure of copyright.







 

2 comments:

Happy Elf Mom (Christine) said...

How did they get that dragon to pose so nicely? :)

I hadn't thought of this as a dance song...

Usethebrains Godgiveyou said...

I love you, Happy Elf Mom...You always make me laugh!