Let us consider the blessings of our humanness as we ponder Rumi’s poem, “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.
[They] may be clearing you out
for some new delight.
The [negative] 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.
Loving God, help us to be alert for those unexpected visitors of negativity; may their appearance not cause us to lose our composure and our gracious desire to bring peace and love to our world.—AMEN.