A young woman named Sally was driving home from a business trip in Northern Arizona. She saw an elderly Navajo woman walking on the side of the road. As the trip was a long and quiet one, she stopped the car and asked the Navajo woman if she would like a ride. With a silent nod of thanks, the woman got into the car. Resuming the journey, Sally tried in vain to make a bit of small talk with the Navajo woman. The old woman just sat silently, looking intently at everything she saw, studying every little detail. Then the old woman noticed a brown bag on the seat next to Sally. "What’s in bag?" asked the old woman. Sally looked down at the brown bag and said, "It’s a leather coat. I got it for my husband."

The Navajo woman was silent for another moment or two. Then speaking with the quiet wisd…