A Wise Rumi Poem About Welcoming

The wisest people I know say one thing always.

They say it’s good to welcome what’s here. They say to trust what’s here, don’t fight it. They say to open our arms to what shows up.

Whenever I write a blog, people email me personally, text me, or comment publicly on the post. (I love that you do this. Thank you.) Jennifer commented on my last post and essentially, she wrote about welcoming fear (and all that goes with it) into the heart. She said the heart can hold what the mind can’t. She is very wise.

If I’m weary of fear, I’m resisting it. I have not invited it in to sit at the table of my heart. I have not invited it to tea.

It seems I have a thing or two to learn about welcoming fear. For sure, welcoming what’s here (whatever it is in the moment) is an ongoing practice, and wears a coat of many colors.

Learning opens me, my life, my possibilities. To that end, I find that a little Rumi is most helpful.

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.

– Rumi

Thank you all for your input. If you know me, you know I am committed to learning from everyone and everything, every day.

p.s. Thank you, Bill, for reminding me of this poem.