11/28/05 11:28am

As the Thanksgiving holiday weekend closes, a couple things come to an awareness of the mind and heart. Society and quite possibly "humanity" in general has become wrapped up with and spoiled by the advances of technology and science. There is a sense of need or desire for I want this and I want it now ... instant gratification ... as well as "needing" our ego stroked. This is happening in relationships, business dealings and family life.

There is a fine line between self-gratification (ego stroking) and being appreciated by others. The gratification/ego stroking is rather unattractive and is often found or experienced through fishing for compliments. In many ways I "personally" would attribute it to a lack of self-worth and a poor self image. In either case it is an emotional need or attachment to seek validation of who we are in life.

In many ways it causes me to recall the teaching of Jesus about the giving of alms ... to do so in secret, so that the lfet hand does not know what the right hand is doing.

Which then leads us or takes us to our personal motive for doing something. Are we doing this or that because we want to from our heart-of-hearts, or are we doing it, even if subconsciously, for our mind's recognition or praise or thanks from others?

The test is very simple ... after we do something, do we move on to something else, and let go of what we've done? Or do we linger waiting to show others what we've done, or do we feel neglected, or unappreciated if what we've done goes unnoticed?

The words of Oriah Mountain Dreamer

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 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 the sorrow....if you have been opened by life's betrayals or have become shriveled and closed from fear or 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 you to be careful, be realistic or to remember the limitations of being Human.

It doesn't interest me if the story you are 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 you 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 how much money you have. I want to know if you can get up after the night of great despair, weary and bruised to the bone and do what needs to be done for the children.

It doesn't interest me who you are....how you came here. I want to know if you'll 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....

OriahMountain Dreamer(c)From Dreams Of Desire 1995..by Oriah House-all rights reserved-published by Mountain Dreaming