The Invitation by Oriah

Well, it has certainly been a while since I last blogged.  I had every intention of blogging once a week but for some reason, didn't. I came across this poem several weeks ago and after reading it for the 100th time, I all of a sudden had the urge to share it.  I think it needs no introduction as I am sure you will make of it what you will.Enjoy.



The Invitation

By Oriah

It doesn’t 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 doesn’t interest me 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 doesn’t interest me what planets are squaring your moon…
I want to know if you have touched
The centre of your own sorrow
if you have been opened by life’s 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 doesn’t 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 bare the accusation of betrayal
and not betray your own soul.
If you can be faithless and therefore trustworthy.
I want to know if you see Beauty even when it is 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 at the edge of the lake
and shout to the silver of the full moon
“yes”

It doesn’t interest me to know where you live
or how much money you have.
I want to know if you can get up after a night of grief and despair weary and bruised to the bone and do what needs to be done to feed the children.

It doesn’t interest me who you know or how came to be here.
I want to know if you will stand in the centre of the fire
with me
and not shrink back.

It doesn’t interest me
where or what or whom you have studied.
I want to know what sustains you
from inside
when all else falls away.

I want to know if you can be alone
with yourself
and if you truly like the company in the empty moments.