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 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 centre of your 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 tok now if you can be with joy
mine or your own
if you can dance with wildness
and let the ecstacy fill you to the tips of your fingers and
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 yourslef
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 yourslef
and if you truly like the company you keep
in the empty mountains.