Re: The Invitation

2004-05-24T05:02:07Z

Excellent poem. Really says it. Gets me in the heart and gut. A good reminder.

Re: The Invitation

2004-05-22T00:11:00Z

Oriah Mountain Dreamer is a wonderful poet. So much richer than how I put it in another thread. Listen and look for signs of someone's integrity, because that's how you take their measure, not by their physical appearance.

Re: The Invitation

2004-05-20T16:27:14Z

Oh JT, this is truly beautiful, so real, so touching, This poem paints a sort of multifacited mural in ones mind(to me). Reading this came at a time when I REALLY needed it most.

One of my patients coded, (not more than just a few hours ago) but he "came" back. It's kinda hard not to get unglued when this happens...but this poem put a peace in my heart.

The Invitation

2004-05-20T12:11:18Z

For those of who have not read "The Invitation" This is a wonderful statement or poem that is in the forword of a book called Spiritual Intelligence.

For me it is wonderfully inspiring, and I believe it acts a reminder for every individual of what our core values could be or maybe what they were or maybe what they are - enjoy.

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 shrivelled 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
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.

The Invitation, inspired by Oriah Mountain Dreamer, Native American Elder, May 1994.

Warm Regards

Noble Realms — The Invitation

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The Invitation