Every now and then we find words that offer encouragement to us in troubled times. They can help us to examine our lives and help us to understand ourselves better or to be better understood by others. Sometimes these words just blow you away........because the truth of them just resonates within you. that's how I felt when I read the Invitation. It still has meaning in my life....the focus of the meaning alters according to the situaion I happen to be contemplating. I would add that I do not believe in God. The author of the 'Invitation' does and I respect her views.

Other peoples' words will be added from time to time as they come to me.

I believe in the Great Spirit, which I would describe as a Universal energy of which we are a part and connected with in a different sense to Man and his God. I feel that this connection ecompasses all life: plants, trees, insects, animals (of air, land and water, including humans), the rivers, oceans, mountains. skies, planets and so on.

Beliefs aside, the words display a depth and understanding of humanity that I find rare in this society. I hope the words mean something to you as well........

 

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 dreams, 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 center 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, be realistic, or 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.

I want to know if you can be faithful 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 life from God's presence.

I want to know if you can live with failure, yours or mine, and still stand on the edge of a 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 for the children.

It doesn't interest me who you are 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 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.

 

Oriah Mountain Dreamer