Wednesday, May 7, 2008

audacious space to share exquisite beauty ~Jen~


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 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 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
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 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 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 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 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.

9 comments:

Sarah said...

Di, reading this today was one of the best birthday presents I could have received. It was like air, somehow, reminding me that I'm on a path toward good things. I printed it out and hung it on my wall ;)

Marsyl said...

and the answer is...I don't know, honestly. But I could try.

terri said...

i love this poem di. thanks.

Anonymous said...

Di
This poem is totally awesome. I LOVE IT! You are always finding gems girl. This is priceless.

Amykinz said...

"I want to know if you can be alone with yourself and if you truly like the company you keep in the empty moments." - Isn't that the question of my life? :) My current answer...no. BUT...I am working very hard on revealing my beauty from the inside out! ;) So, one day, my answer will be...YES!

kirsten said...

a profoundly & deeply moving poem. and the picture, yes!! exquisite beauty.

these lines jumped out at me:
"I want to know if you can see Beauty
even when it is not pretty
every day."

yes oh yes. there is a difference between beauty & pretty.

and i couldn't help but notice the dandelion on the sidebar. maybe it's been there awhile, but yes. that stads out to me too. ;o)

Scott R. Davis said...

very excellent poem especially after reading of a fellow disciple who made his journey to Jesus this past sunday. Of how we can be brave in the face of our pain and to be able to walk closer with Jesus.. And to allow Him to bear it. When Jesus hung on the cross, he did it with humanity. Focused on the two thieves. he interacted with them and kept them in His thoughts. Thanks for the post. May God bless you.

James said...

Wow! I love words and how they can be so powerful to convey what is real and true and powerful. This piece by Oriah Mountain Dreamer is so powerful and helps me see who it is that I want to be. Di, thank you for bringing this, for sharing this piece of exquisite beauty!

pERiWinKle said...

One of my all time favorite poems! I've read it the first time about 8 years ago...made a copy of it and still carries it in my Bible....cause I only need to alone and happy with myself (and God) to be happy! xx