Admiring Gainsborough

Admiring Gainsborough

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

The Guesthouse

As a recent graduate of a an anger management class, I was lucky enough to come across a wonderful poem called the guesthouse. It's a poem by Rumi which, of course, gives it more cache than anything I can think of. Anger management was rough, quite a bit self reflection and it still continues. The Guesthouse just came at the right time and so I'm going to share it.





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 ~