The alternative Old Testament reading for this week contains a strange and perhaps unhelpful association. Speaking of the house she has built, Wisdom calls from the highest places to the simple: “You that are simple, turn in here!” (9:4). Then she speaks again, this time “to those without sense, . . . ‘Come, eat of my bread and drink of the wine I have mixed. Lay aside immaturity, and live, and walk in the way of insight” (vv. 5-6). Through Proverbs parallelism, it appears Wisdom associates the simple and those without sense and urges both to grow up and become insightful.
This seems consistent with my upbringing. To be a simpleton was not a positive thing. I’m wondering about that now, though. Grandchildren will do that to you.
My granddaughter Sophie is three and a half. She talks up a storm, and it pays attention to listen. One night this week Ginger went over to take something to her parents. Ginger came through the door, and Sophie called out from the where Da-Da was giving her a path. “I’m playing in the bathtub upstairs,” she announced. Sunday morning I met her at the neighborhood park, which Sophie calls her “favorite park,” not distinguishing that it’s actually her only park. She cackled uncontrollably watching our dog Georgia run with the other dogs. She looked up at me and said, “Granddaddy, I love you,” and then wanted to be picked up, the very essence of a simple pleasure. Then she wanted to go on the swings and the sliding board. Finally she was ready to go home. Her mom had to set a deadline, but you could tell she was actually worn out. She asked to go home “nakey,” which means only in panties. It was hot, after all. The day before I had taken her to get leotards and a skirt for her ballet class, which starts later this month. She was very excited and picked out what she wanted, including a pink and purple bag to carry it all in. “I’m ready to go now,” she announced.
But here’s the main thing. He mom took her to the Dollar Store later that day and bought her a fall craft project. It was an outline of “harvest time” to be painted by budding artists. She was quite proud of her work. She said, “I painted the sky orange, the fence and words brown, the pumpkins red, and the truck green.” I have a picture of it. It’s just what she did. And the project cost all of, as the name implies, one dollar. A dollar well spent on the simplest of things.
Today she got her picture taken with her “My First Day of School” sign announcing that her name is Sophie and she is in Pre-K 4 and her teaches are Ms. Nikki and Ms. Mandi. Oh, and by the way, her favorite colors are pink and purples, she wants to be a doctor when she grows up, and her favorite things are Teddy, coloring, Legos, and Barbies. But it’s hard to get to all that other information because she is standing behind it with the biggest smile on her face. Sophie is simply happy. And she simply makes me happy.
She is the very model of simplicity at this age, and although I know that won’t last, I’m not sure I’m happy about that reality. I know she has a lot to learn, but I also know I’ve never seen anyone so happy. I’m pretty sure it’s related to the simplicity.
There is a hymn that is better at Sophie’s perspective of the matter and I think quite different than Proverbs’ understanding. It is a hymn of the Shaker tradition, known to many as ”Simple Gifts.”
Tis the gift to be simple, 'tis the gift to be free,
'Tis the gift to come down where I 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 gained,
To bow and to bend we shan't be ashamed;
Till by turning, turning we come round right.
I like hymn better than Wisdom’s house, I’m afraid. I think I’ll teach it to Sophie. She loves to sing. Maybe she’ll sing it to me when I need to be reminded of the simplicity of being three.
Agape,
+Stacy
Bishop Stacy Sauls
Founder and President