 |
THE GUEST HOUSE
This being human is a guest house.
Every morning a new arrival.
A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
as an unexpected visitor.
Welcome and entertain them all!
Even if they are a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture,
still, treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out
for some new delight.
The dark thought, the shame, the malice.
meet them at the door laughing and invite them in.
Be grateful for whatever comes.
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond.
-- Jelaluddin Rumi
It's not easy to be as optimistic as the 13th-century mystic poet Rumi, but reading his work can at least plant the seed. Being human is full of ups and downs. The downs can be be pretty rough, but if we can think about the downs as preparation for the good that is right around the corner, it might help us sleep better at night.
The bad moments can also be important messengers to direct our attention towards the things that are going well. As Robin Williams says in Good Will Hunting, "You'll have bad times, but it'll always wake you up to the good stuff you weren't paying attention to.
Just like a devastating fire that clears a forest to make way for new growth, every experience, good or bad, has a purpose, which will someday become clear. Our challenge is to remain positive and patient until it does that purpose is revealed.
Be grateful for whatever comes, because each has been sent as a guide from beyond.
No comments:
Post a Comment