‘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 gained

to bow and to bend we shan’t be ashamed

to turn, turn will be our delight

’til be turning, turning we come round right.

Simple Gifts, traditional Shaker hymn

Shakers didn’t just sing: they danced. Turning, turning to the music until everyone comes round right. It’s one of the things we can take from this line.

Turning, turning to adapt and adjust to all of life’s changes is part of growing up. None of us can anticipate all events and circumstances that shape our life’s path, so we turn with the bends in road. It’s another thing we can take from this line.

Here’s a third…

No one gets lost in a labyrinth because there’s only one path. It meanders, so we turn, turn, turn as we continue to walk. The turns take us in all directions, but lead to one place only: the center. The labyrinth is a symbol and walking it an act of the spirit. It reminds us that all of life’s turns lead us to one destination: the heart of God.

So turn, turn without fear. You are on the sacred path, never lost to God, always going home.