On Valuable Things.

After a wonderful sojourn in the wilderness, I walk again the streets of a city which was my home awhile. It is 1:00 p.m. Hundreds of neatly-dressed human beings with pale or painted faces are hurrying in rather orderly lines to and from their places of employment. I, in my faded shirt and well-worn slacks, walk among them.

The rubber soles of my soft canvas shoes move noiselessly along beside the clatter of trim, tight shoes with high heels. In the poorer section I am tolerated. In the wealthier sections some glances seem a bit startled, and some are disdainful. On both sides of us as we walk are displayed the things which we can buy if we are willing to stay in the orderly lines, day after day, year after year.

Some of the things are more or less useful, many are utter trash—some have a claim to beauty, many are garishly ugly. Thousands of things are displayed—and yet the most valuable things are missing.

Freedom is not displayed, nor health, nor happiness, nor peace of mind. To obtain these, my friends, you too may need to escape from the orderly lines and risk being looked upon disdainfully.

– Peace Pilgrim, Steps Toward Inner Peace, p 35. Ocean Tree Books; 1st large type Keepsake edition (October 1, 1992). Original publication, 1981 as a pdf.