It struck me as most appropriate this past week to observe that exactly at the time of the “changing of the guard” in the Presidential inauguration ceremony, we were given a time to hear an extraordinary musical performance by some of America’s most renowned musicians. Their gifts, celebrating a wonderful occasion in the life of our nation was a gift to all those present and all those who were watching from places around the globe.
It was not only a beautiful moment, but it was coupled with the delicate strains of an old Shaker tune, but so beautiful a musical theme…"’tis a gift to be simple…’tis a gift to be free.” For this moment in history, such thoughts were overwhelmingly welcomed and redemptive in their message to the world.
In the midst of our times, when the complexities of economies and wars and challenges of every sort were looming in the background, those beautiful reminders allowed us a sure moment to breathe in their certain truth. It is a gift to consider the most simple of life’s gifts as the most precious. No true gift of life is something bought or sold, but rather are gifts to the heart and of the Spirit. God’s grace is received when it is perceived and known in the power, not of men, but of divine healing and mercy.
To value the simple gifts is to aspire to know those things that truly are our gifts for life. In the midst of those best gifts is the freedom of each day. We share the freedom to think and to act and to respond to our Creator and to one another. It is a freedom to live, to love, and to celebrate joy.
I overheard a young child’s prayer this week…“Dear God, Forgive me of my sins. I have an empty place in my heart, and I want you to come and fill it with joy.” Truer words of expectation and hope have never been spoken. God’s love fills us with the knowledge of His abiding presence and peace…“’Tis a gift to be simple, ‘tis a gift to be free.”
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