The Invitation
Oriah Mountain Dreamer, Indian Elder
it doesnt 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 doesnt interest me how old you are,
I want to know if you will risk looking like a fool for love, for you dreams, for the adventure for being alive.
It doesnt 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 lifes betrayals or have become shriveled and closed from fear of future 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 a human.
It doesnt 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 accusations 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 the beauty, even if its not pretty everyday, if you can source your life from ITS presence
I want to know if you can live with failure, yours and mine, and still stand on the edge of a lake and shout to the silver of the moon, Yes!!
It doesnt 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 for the children
It doesnt 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 now shrink back.
It doesnt 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 those empty moments.
Oriah Mountain Dreamer, Indian Elder
it doesnt 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 doesnt interest me how old you are,
I want to know if you will risk looking like a fool for love, for you dreams, for the adventure for being alive.
It doesnt 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 lifes betrayals or have become shriveled and closed from fear of future 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 a human.
It doesnt 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 accusations 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 the beauty, even if its not pretty everyday, if you can source your life from ITS presence
I want to know if you can live with failure, yours and mine, and still stand on the edge of a lake and shout to the silver of the moon, Yes!!
It doesnt 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 for the children
It doesnt 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 now shrink back.
It doesnt 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 those empty moments.
