"The Guest House" by Rumi and The Serenity Prayer

Most of the time when we think about Patience we are thinking about the ability to wait well. But is that all there is to it? 

In her sermon this past Sunday, Pastor Alison explored a deeper meaning of patience, "quality of suffering," rooted in the word's etymology. Patience is certainly about waiting well — after all, waiting can be a form of suffering — however, it's also about much more than that. 

As much as we may wish it weren’t so, suffering is an inescapable part of the human experience. No matter how hard we may try to avoid it, in the end, in one way or another, suffering touches us all. Many of us here in this community — in New York City, in our country, and around the world — are hurting right now, for reasons personal and public, individual and systemic.

And so it seems that there is great value in considering how to suffer well. How to improve the quality of our suffering. Not to prove our mettle or our holiness, but for the sake of unconditional love. So that we may be more able to show up for ourselves and for others in the midst of pain.

In order to improve the quality of our suffering, Pastor Alison encouraged us to practice sitting with and welcoming all of our emotions — especially the ones that seem difficult, overwhelming, embarrassing, or shameful.

She also spoke about the practice of acceptance (in times when we cannot change our circumstances) and the ways that it differs from approval. For example, we can accept that we are experiencing an emotion without believing that it is pleasant or comfortable. And we can accept that a situation cannot be changed without saying that it is good.

Two resources that can help us with these practices are a poem by Rumi called "The Guest House" and the famous Serenity Prayer.

We encourage you to spend some time this week reflecting on the poem; sitting with your emotions; and praying for more serenity, courage, and wisdom in your life!

May we grow together in patience — the quality of our suffering — so that we may love ourselves and others more deeply. 

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"The Guest House" by Rumi

​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.

Reflection Questions
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What might it be like to view ourselves as guest houses, where “guests” (thoughts and feelings) come to visit, stay for a while, and then, ultimately, take their leave?

What might it look like for us to extend hospitality to all of the “guests” who come to stay with us? 

How can we practice and grow in this kind of hospitality, both individually and collectively?

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