The Simple Life

I was raised in a very simple life, living on the east end of the Grand Canyon. Grandfather was probably my biggest influence on everything that matters. His biggest point of advice was to go find my answer while sitting on the side of a cliff listening to the wind as it rushed through the canyon.

During the summer of my eighth year I came to him with what I thought was a very important problem. I guess at eight years old most anything is more important than life itself. Anyway he told me that the answer I am seeking will come to me if I go sit on the cliff above angel canyon and listen to what the wind is saying. That is exactly what happened, I went to the cliff and sat there thinking about my problem, listening to the wind and the birds sing through the canyon when low and behold the answer came to me. When I went back and told my grandfather he smiled and said God will answer all your prayers, all you have to do is listen to what He says.

Grandfather died when I was 12 years old and we moved to Ohio, but I have never forgotten what he taught me those years on the reservation. Whenever I came upon a problem needing an answer I would find a quiet secluded place and listen to the wind.
The answer always came to me.

Life was simpler in those days, we would make mistakes and we would forgive and forget. We loved each other unconditionally and we were always happy. What has changed over the years?

Today life seems so hard, people are constantly fighting over little things, unconditional love seems like it is a thing of the past and forgive and forget – well you can just shelf that. People today are never happy with anything and look for fault in everything. Trust is gone, love is fragile and life is full of stress. We all seem to be centered on ourselves and have no time to care for our friends and neighbors.

I think, today, people tend to harbor their fears too much. I also feel they find solace in making their live’s so complicated and miserable. I think they feel if they are unhappy, people will leave them alone. So they hide within themselves allowing the burden to hold them back from being truly happy.

I find it disconcerting when someone tells me they can’t love unconditionally or they can’t forget a hurt. I wonder why, when life is so short, they can’t find it in their heart to love others as God has loved them. I came to the conclusion that people have made their live’s so complicated they forgot the simple way of their youth. What they don’t realize is nothing has changed, except them. Life can be simple, life can be happy and life can be full once again.

When grandfather had me go sit on the cliff and listen to the wind, he was really having me find a quiet, secluded place to sit and talk to God. He was also teaching me to listen to what God tells me. Today we pray, but do we listen to His answer? I think most don’t listen when He responds and that is why we are in this position.

I still live a simple life. I still sit and listen to the wind and birds as I pray for answers. I offer my simple life to you. Give it a try.

Life is short and we don’t have much time for gladdening the hearts of those who are traveling the dark way with us. Oh, be swift to love! Make haste to be kind.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

What do you think? Courteous comment always welcome.