[Continuing our celebration of the re-release of my 1973 album, “Still Life,” here are some reflections on another song.]

Sitting by the ocean with nothing to do but talk to you
Sitting here listening to the whispering waves telling me it’s true
Hiking to the top of a mountain
Drinking water from a cool clear stream
Watching the sunset and talking to God
And knowing He loves me

These simple pleasures
Are everywhere in great measure
I just open my eyes and I can see
The richest things I have are free

What can possibly be more valuable to anyone than a relationship with God? “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?” said Jesus (Mark 8:36). There’s simply nothing to compare with the God factor. Lose God, and you lose your soul. Nothing is worth that price. By the same token, have it – a relationship with God – and you have everything.

I always wished I had a little cabin alone in the North Country
I’d sit there in the morning writing a song with the fire warming me
But it ain’t that hard
And it’s not that far
One look in your face and I realize
My cabin is in your eyes

Relationships are everything. We have dreams and plans and these are well and good, but they can never be the ends we seek. What we seek are relationships, and in the eyes of those we love are found everything we are seeking. Jesus said to seek the kingdom of God first, and everything else would come along. This is what this song does: it simplifies things – gets life down to its basic elements. It’s not that life is cheap; it’s that life is basically all about getting a few things right, namely your relationship with God and your relationships with others.

Everybody’s buying and trying to keep up with the cost of life
Getting paranoia when the prices annoy ya you can’t see the light
When real simple pleasures
Are everywhere in great measure
Why just open your eyes and you can see
The richest things in life are free

Well is this timely or what? Was this written 38 years ago or was it just yesterday? Remember, it’s not that life is cheap; it’s that life is full when you choose correctly.

[You can listen to “Simple Pleasures” if you click the link below. You may sample the songs even if you choose not to purchase them.]