Jan 13 2008
Welcome and entertain them all!
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’re 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 whoever comes,
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond.~The Essential Rumi
Yes, whatever comes your way in life, good or bad, becomes a part of you anyway, like it or not. You have the choice of treating the bad with anger, annoyance, resentment. But it’s still there. My response to good - has been thankfulness, gratitude, appreciation. But my response to bad has been basic, primieval, how dare the unpleasantries impose on my life! My arrogance says the negatives should just stay out of my life - go somewhere else. And what a waste of opportunites this is. To learn from adversity, to try to understand the negatives that are there anyway - these did not enter my intuition. But as I live and learn, I begin to see: the dark thought,…malice,…adversity,…to meet them, recognize them, invite them into myself - and be grateful for the guide that has been sent to enrich my life.
Love this post Tania. Rumi…one of my fav’s. How did you ever know?
As for embracing adversity to learn about life? We won’t even go down that road. It’s a romantic notion expressed by Rumi. A thought I do not agree with but I still love his works.
Take care Tania.
~JD
Thanks JD! I guess that I feel that if we didn’t have the negative, we wouldn’t appreciate the positive, the light without the dark, the sun without rain… besides, I like my “rose colored glasses”
Blessings,
~Tania
Life is a journey and bad does lead to good.
And does lead us to enjoy the roses even more.
Great blog!!!
Hugs, JJ
Interesting.
Every morning we get a new chance to start all over though.
oh Wow!! essence of life —thats Rumi!!!