This being human is a guest house.
Every morning a new arrival.
A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
as an unexpected visitor.
Welcome and entertain them all!
Even if they're a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweeps your house
empty of its furniture,
still, treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out
for some new delight.
The dark thought, the shame, the malice,
meet them at the door laughing,
and invite them in.
Be grateful for whoever comes,
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond.
*********
Knowing ourselves, as Rumi reminds us in this poem, demands that we pay attention to the things we would rather not acknowledge. Yet we must welcome ourselves fully to the guest house of our own lives, our own humanness. Welcome to you today; what do you finding waiting in the room of your soul?
No comments:
Post a Comment