THE INVITATION by Oriah Mountain Dreamer

It doesn't matter to 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 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 or closed

from fear of further pain

I want to know if you can sit with your own pain

without moving to hide it or fade it, or fix it

I want to know if you can be with your own joy

If you can dance wildness,

and let the ecstasy fill you

to the tips of your fingers and toes,

without cautioning yourself

to be careful

to 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

If you can be "faithful",

and therefore trustworthy

I want to know if you can see beauty, even when it's not pretty

every day

and if you can source from your own life

Beauty's Presence

I want to know if you can live with your failure

and still stand on 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 ot the bone,

and do what needs to be done for your family

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 center of the file wiht me

and not shink 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

If you can be alone with yourself, and

If you truly like the company you keep

In the empty moments

A dear friend sent this my way... wanted to share the same with you all.