Books by the old Leather Chair

  • Snow In The Summer
  • My Bible
  • The Power of Silence
  • What Comes Next and to Like It
  • Encore Provence
  • A Year in Provence

Saturday, February 19, 2011

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.

~Rumi~

12 comments:

FlowerLady Lorraine said...

What a great thought, thank you for sharing.

FlowerLady

Marcie said...

Wow. That really makes you think! Thank you for the Saturday morning "wake up call." :)

Balisha said...

I never thought of myself as a guesthouse. What an interesting thought. Have a wonderful weekend.
Balisha

Laura said...

one of my all time favorite poems...thanks for posting, for this reminder to welcome our wholeness...even the parts we are not so in love with.

sally said...

Thank you for always giving me something not only to read but to feel.

One Woman's Journey - a journal being written from Woodhaven - her cottage in the woods. said...

Flower Lady, Aisling, Balisha, Laura and Sally, thank you for visiting. A rainy morning in Tennessee.

Adarlene said...

What a wonderful sentiment to share on this winter morning when it seems as though it was written particularly for me. Thank youl Alice

One Woman's Journey - a journal being written from Woodhaven - her cottage in the woods. said...

Alice, thank you for visiting. Please stop by again...

Christy said...

Wow. This could be one of my favs...thanks

Sharon said...

This is my lifelong challenge. Thank you for this poem today.

One Woman's Journey - a journal being written from Woodhaven - her cottage in the woods. said...

Christy and Sharon, thank you for visiting...

MsGraysea said...

The Guest House was used as the basis of a seminar I attended on healing grief last year. So meaningful, and I most certainly needed the reminder of this lovely Rumi piece this morning.!