DNAs Hidden Gifts

This is Shuttianna. She watches us go by and says nothing to those who do not ask. No one does.

She stores the hopes and experiences of our ancestors. They are no secret. We hold the key to them in our DNA. We don’t even have to open her doors. We can open our own. She is just a reminder. “Look,” she says, “look inside!”

We don’t. We walk by, thinking or talking about things that would anger our ancestors by their insignificance. The holy force of life manifests itself in every grain of wood, every whisper of grass and every dance of a butterfly. Yet we speak not of life, but of things, people and events that we can’t influence and have no relevance to the health of our tribe.

I admire Shuttianna’s effort to look neutral. I tell her so. She thanks me and says that our ancestors are willing to offer the pursuit of happiness to anyone who abandons the pursuit of things.

“Are you certain?” I ask.

“Look inside!”