The Invitation...

The following is an excerpt from a powerful poem I recently found, written by Oriah. "The Invitation" was used in a Ironman Triathlon video chronicling the heroic life of Jon Blais- better known as the 'ALS Warrior Poet.' Like Jon, I find myself being uninterested in the superficial qualities and experiences of other people. I really don't care where you're from- I want to know where you've been!!! Like other servicemembers in todays military, I meet people everyday who I could potentially go to war with. Were it not for the lengthy training required for aviators, I would very likely be leaving for Iraq or Afghanistan in January 2008. With an understanding of the challenges ahead I find myself constantly judging others- to see who I can count on when things go bad- and certainly being judged myself. As people's true character doesn't shine until they are at their very worse- tired and hungry, it is certainly difficult to come upon a final judgement when we are well fed and rested, or 'fat & happy' as we like to say. I know I'll get that chance, to see myself at my very worse- exhausted and empty- in the very near future. I just hope I meet the same high expectations I hold for others...

The Invitation
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 dream

for the adventure of being alive.

I want to know if you can see Beauty

even when it is not pretty

every day.

And if you can source your own life from its presence.

I want to know if you can live with failure

yours and mine

and still stand at the edge of the lake

and shout to the silver of the full moon,

“Yes.”

It doesn’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 despair

weary and bruised to the bone

and do what needs to be done

to feed the children.

It doesn’t interest me who you know

or how you came to be here.

I want to know if you will standin the centre 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.