Wisdom from an Indian Elder

It dosen'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 hearts longing

It dosen'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 dosen't matter what planets are squaring your moon.
I want to know if you have touched the centre of your own sorrow,
if you have been opened by life's betrayals
or have become shriveled and closed from the fear of further pain!

I want to know if you can sit with the pain, mine or your own:
without moving to hide it or fade it or fix it

I want to know it you can be with joy, mine or your own:
if you can dance with wilderness
and let extasy 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 dosen'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 therfore trustworthy.
I want to know if you can see beauty even when it is not pretty everyday,
and if you can sorce your life from gods 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!"

I dosen't interest me to know where you live or how much money you have.
I want to know if you can get up after the night of grief
and dispair, weary and bruised to the bone,
and do what needs to be done for the children

It dosen'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 dosen't interest me where or what or with whom you studies.
I want to know if you 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.

Oriah Mountain Dreamer, Indian Elder