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 honourably.
He may be cleaning 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)
Have you discovered yet how utterly messy being human is? We long for order in our lives. We long for a strong self-definition, a version of ourselves which doesn’t include our imperfections, our nakedness as we are; so, in the interests of our ego-bound self, we refuse to accept the entirety of our being.
But if we cannot accept the entirety of our being: our imperfections, our hidden sorrows, our dark thoughts and hidden shame, how can we possibly know divine love in all its awesome fullness? How is the prodigal son ever to come truly home to be embraced by his loving, forgiving father?
John of the Cross said, “Love what God sees in you.” God sees us in our entirety and God loves us in our entirety. And God knows that when we reclaim the parts of ourselves which we have banished underground and accept them into our fully conscious awareness, we will inevitably become a more whole, more authentic version of ourselves.
So let us humbly gather all the parts of ourselves together on the ground of love, and wait to feel the healing breath of the Divine gently brush our souls:
“Be grateful for whoever comes,
Because each has been sent
As a guide from beyond.”
Rumi deserves the last word!
