Being human is a guest house

 I received this from someone very dear to me and have been reflecting on it before deciding to share it with you today. 

"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."

Now, this takes some quiet reflection for me to be able to greet whoever comes; I always try to bar the door to dark thoughts. In fact, I find that I am slow to open the door to any unexpected visitors and that is not good. I shall try to be more inviting today both in regard to the inner guest house and to my own door.

I am writing this on Election Day and want to spend a good deal of it in prayer for our country. It is such a joy to be able to at least go to the Chapel and just sit there with the Lord!