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 centre 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 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 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 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 beat the 
accusation of betrayal and not betray your own soul.  I want to know if you can 
be faithless 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 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 full 
moon, "YES!"

It doesn't interest me to know where you live or how much money you have.  I 
want to know whether 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 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 the like the company 
you keep with your empty moments.

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