Sunday, May 28, 2006 The Invitation

Sunday, May 28, 2006 The Invitation


THE INVITATION







It doesnt interest me what you do for a living. I want to know what you ache for, and if
You dare to dream of meeting your hearts longing.
It doesnt interest me of how old you are. I want to know if you will risk looking like a fool
For love, for your dream, for the adventure of being alive.
It doesnt interest me what planets are squaring your moon. I want to know if you have
Touched the center of your own sorrow, if you have been opened by lifes betrayals or
Have become shriveled and closed from fear of further pain! I want to know if you can sit
With pain, mine or your own, without moving to hide it or fade it, or fix it.
I want to know if you can be with joy, mine or your own, if you can dance with wildness
And let the ecstasy fill you to the tips of your fingers and toes without cautioning us to be
Careful, to be realistic, to remember the limitations of being human.
It doesnt interest me if the story you are telling me is true. I want to know if you can
Disappoint another to be true to yourself; if you can bear the accusation of betrayal and
Not betray your own soul; if you can be faithless and therefore trustworthy.
I want to know if you can see beauty even when its not pretty, every day, and if you can
Source your own life from its presence.
I want to know if you can live with failure, yours and mine, and still stand on the edge of
The lake and shout to the silver of the full moon, Yes!
It doesnt interest me to know where you live or how much money you have. I want to
Know if you can get up, after the night of grief and despair, weary and bruised to the
Bone, and do what needs to be done to feed the children.
It doesnt interest me who you know or how you came to be here. I want to know if you
Will stand in the center of the fire with me and not shrink back.
It doesnt interest me where or what or with whom you have studied. I want to know
What sustains you, from the inside, when all else falls away.
I want to know if you can be alone with yourself and if you truly like the company you
Keep in the empty moments

By Oriah Mountain Dreamer