At one point in my life, I was the music teacher in an elementary school.
I usually ended each class by inviting the students to choose the last song.
One December morning, I was sort of expecting the third graders to ask for “Rudolf” or the novelty arrangement of “Frosty” we were preparing for our concert.
So I was surprised when they asked to sing a Shaker tune.
They had learned the song in the fall and had listened to Copland’s "Appalachian Spring" during music appreciation lessons, but still!
So I asked them why they wanted to sing “Simple Gifts."
“Because it’s about getting presents,” they told me.
Oh, my goodness.
I explained that the lyrics to this tune were actually instructions for a simple dance, but also a reminder that there is no satisfaction in acquiring power or wealth.
The song means that we should not get all wrapped up about getting stuff.
How, I wondered, did our holidays become occasions for greed?
How will we ever have peace on Earth if our primary motivation is acquisition?
We have been given simple gifts: starlight and stately pines, clean water and pure air.
But we seem to be destroying our greatest gift - the environment - in a quest for more and more possessions.
Our beautiful planet will continue to be degraded unless we change our priorities.
Perhaps this holiday season, this time of music and joy and love, we will learn that it really is a gift to be simple.
