Welcome to the ULC Minister's Network

kiwani [e.lawson]

THE INVITATION - by Oriah Mountain Dreamer

  • From the moment I read this, it captured me.. it struck me that this is what is important in life if we really want to get to know another... I hope you enjoy this and may find you like it as I do...

    The Invitation -By Oriah Mountain Dreamer  ~  

    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 in 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 in 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 tip 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're 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 be 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 the Spirit's 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 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 for the children. 

    It doesn't interest me who you are, 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. 

    http://www.starstuffs.com/prayers/invitation.htm#hopiprayer

4 comments
  • Richard Parker
    Richard Parker Hmm, it is a good reflection, to open up thought about ones self, I am at peace with myself and every other person I have met on this journey. we call life. The experience here has been truly awesome. In every aspect, good and bad.
    December 3, 2013 - 6 like this
  • kiwani  [e.lawson]
    kiwani [e.lawson] agree Richard- you know, I was involved with going to all kinds of various meetings for work and college for several years, and at each one, everyone would always introduce themselves as "I am __, I work ___" and I kept thinking this is how we identify wh...  more
    December 3, 2013 - 5 like this
  • Michael de la Om :-)
    Michael de la Om :-) I love the question when you meet someone for the first time, "And what do you do?" Funny that like you said we are defined by the Job we have or the station we hold for income. Great points Sis kiwani and Bro Richard!
    December 4, 2013 - 2 like this
  • Auntie Moira
    Auntie Moira Such an american thingto ask "what do you do?". Oter cultures have different opening lines: "have you eaten" is a nice one. The french don't ask strangers about work or family, speaking about such things is reserved to indicate a deepe...  more
    December 12, 2016