Relationship Garden Blog

This being human is a guest house

Every morning a new arrival

A joy, a depression, a meanness

some mementary awareness comes

as an unexpected visitor

Welcome and entertain them all!

Even if the’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

So often we are afraid to let ourselves fully be all that we can be.  I saw this quote by Marianne Williamson (evidently often mistakenly attributed to Nelson Mandela) while watching Akaela and the Bee the other night and felt inspired to look it up and share it.  Enjoy!

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.  Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.  It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us.  We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous?  Actually, who are you not to be?  You are a child of God.  Your playing small doesn’t serve the world.  We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.  It’s not just in some of us;  It’s in everyone.  And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.  As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”  Marianne Williamson in “Return to Love.”