It doesn't interest me what you do for a living
I want to know what you ache for
And if you dare to dream of meeting your heart's longing
It doesn't interest me how old you are
I want to know if you will risk looking like a fool for love
for your dreams, for the adventure of being alive
It doesn't interest me what planets are squaring your moon.
I want to know if you have touched
the center of your own sorrow
If you have been opened by life's betrayals
Or have become shriveled and
closed from fear of further pain!
I want to know if you can sit with pain, mine or your own
Without moving to hide it or fade it or fix it
I want to know if you can be with joy
Mine or your own
If you can dance with wildness
And let the ecstasy fill you to the tips of your fingers
And toes without cautioning us to be careful, be realistic
or to remember the limitations of being human
It doesn't interest me if the story you're telling me is true
I want to know if you can disappoint another
To be true to yourself
If you can bear the accusation of
betrayal and not betray your own soul
I want to know if you can be faithful and
Therefore be trustworthy
I want to know if you can see beauty
Even when it is not pretty every day
And if can source your life from God's presence
I want to know if you can live with failure, yours and mine
And still stand on the edge of a lake
And shout to the silver of the full moon, "Yes!"
It doesn't interest me to know where you live
Or own, or how much money you have
I want to know if you can get up after the night of grief
and despair, weary and bruised the bone
And do what needs to be done for the children
It doesn't interest me who you are, how you came to be here
I want to know if you will stand in the center
of the fire with me and not shrink back
It doesn't interest me where or what
Or with whom you have studied.
I want to know what sustains you
From the inside when all else falls away
I want to know if you can be alone with yourself
And if you truly like the company you keep
In the empty moments
Sometimes inspirations sit, and wait patiently- 'til we are ready for them... Thanks again Les
