Had coffee with a dear kindred one this morning. We talked about our lives, our mothering, our faith, our struggles, our questions and the paths we each attempt to take small steps on everyday. She reached into her bag (she always has the coolest, funky artsy "purses"!) and handed me this small book called "The Invitation". I was so moved by this poem written by Oriah. It resonated with a place deep in my soul. Though we may come from different faith experiences...our common longing for authenticity and being released from "what confines and restrains in our relationships" to "what opens and brings depth"... helped me breathe in deeply and exhale. Hope it nourishes you today.
The Invitation........
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 heart’s 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 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 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 the 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 you 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 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.
© Mountaindreaming, from the book The Invitation published by HarperSanFrancisco, 1999 All rights reserved
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 heart’s 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 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 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 the 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 you 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 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.
© Mountaindreaming, from the book The Invitation published by HarperSanFrancisco, 1999 All rights reserved
You may read more about the author and her poetic works on her website.
8 comments:
This poem says it all. It's definitely how I feel, too. I'm terrible at small talk and shallow conversation. I want to ask about what makes people feel alive, where it hurts inside, hear their stories and validate their existence. It's so refreshing to know I'm not alone in this feeling. Thanks for sharing, Lani. I hope you're doing better!
:) Michelle
Lani ♥
I thank you for THIS invitation...what a profound piece...and I am more than intrigued about the author. This speaks what we so often feel in our own hearts.
Well the book's speaking to me! I think it's such a gift to have women friends that you can share these invitations/wishes/needs with....thank you...
Hi Lani...
Thank you for sharing the invitation with us. I have been doing alot of soul searching these past weeks. I just came back from doing a workshop called Seasons Of The soul. During that worshop the Lord revealed to me two things that were hidden deep within my soul. It was awesome how he knew when I was spiritually mature to handle it, and I was, much to my surprise.
I continue to keep you in my prayer journal that the Lord will continue to use you in a mighty way as you reach women and share encouraging words and sites with us.
Hugz Lorie
Thanks for asking! The show went great- tons of people and lots of fun. Plus, I sold nearly $100 worth of my art! I was shocked but happy. I'm open to the exchange thing any time, but only when you're ready. You've got a lot on your plate, which is probably normal for you. :)
-Michelle
I remember reading that years ago.
Lovely poem.
I recently read a journal
entry and the lady had her
dgc visiting. The dgm didn't
like the gray sky, but her dgrd
looked out the window and said
it was beautiful. I like the way
she thinks!
God Bless You and Yours!!!
Thanks for sharing the poem.
It's nice to have read it again.
What beautiful words.. You can feel the depth of the words right into your own soul.
Thanks for sharing,
Staci
What a wonderful piece of writing.I love this, isn't this really the stuff we want to know about ourselves and others, not the polite chitchat. Thankyou so much for sharing! Enjoy your time.
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