This Being Human Is A Guest House

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This being human is a guest house, every morning a new arrival.  - Rumi 

 When I read the above line from the great 13th-century Persian poet this morning, I found myself drawn to it enough to write it down.  

 The more I think about it, the more I feel the honesty of that line.  Every single day it does feel like there's some new guest that takes up some kind of residence within me...  

 This morning I discovered that Anger, Frustration, and Vitriol had all booked a room--an arrival that coincided with an early and unfortunate conversation about politics.  Thankfully, Regret and Repentance showed up to confirm their standing reservation or it might have been a long day.  

 Sometimes on the Mondays after a big church day on Sunday, I wake to find Weariness and Self-Doubt having coffee and danish in the breakfast room.  They have a way of showing up when I'm wondering if I did enough or said the right things the day before. 

 I'm so glad that Encouragement and Peace also tend to make an appearance shortly thereafter.  I have to wander the halls looking for them sometimes, but they always seem to arrive just when I have given up hope that they'll make it.  

 Right this second, I think I can catch a glimpse of Joy down the hall.  She gave me a wink as she made her way down the stairs, passing a newly-arrived Hope as she went.  I'm pretty sure they gave each other a high-five as they passed one another.  

 Oh, and Gratitude just walked in the door and is headed to reception.  I've been seeing a lot of him lately, which explains why I can also see Humility waiting by the elevator.  They seem to travel in tandem.  

 This "guest house" is busy today--just like every other day.  And I'm beginning to realize the importance of welcoming all of the guests, even the ones I struggle to show hospitality to--the ones who tend overstay their welcome.  

 You see, all of these "guests" are part of what it means to be human, and the Divine Landlord who manages this guest house understands completely what that means.  Because of Jesus, God intimately knows what it is like to be just like us.    

 May you embrace "this being human" today and every day, trusting the Divine Landlord to manage your own guest house with love and goodness.  May you learn that for all of the difficult guests, there are many more who arrive to make your guest house a true and beautiful home.   

 And may the grace and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you now and always. Amen.  

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