Love Dogs

I was at a meeting today and someone shared about their own spirituality and how they think they don't have any, and it prompted me to think of this poem by Rumi. I love me some Rumi. Almost rhymes with Joonie, too! ;-)

The whole point of this poem is that our sorrow, our pain...is what makes us cry out to God sometimes. Therefore it is not a bad thing, but something to be embraced. Our cry out is our connection.

LOVE DOGS

One night a man was crying,
Allah! Allah!
His lips grew sweet with the praising,
until a cynic said,
"So! I have heard you
calling out, but have you ever
gotten any response?"

The man had no answer to that.
He quit praying and fell into a confused sleep.

He dreamed he saw Khidr, the guide of souls,
in a thick, green foliage.
"Why did you stop praising?"
"Because I've never heard anything back."
"This longing
you express is the return message."

The grief you cry out from
draws you toward union.

Your pure sadness
that wants help
is the secret cup.

Listen to the moan of a dog for its master.
That whining is the connection.

There are love dogs
no one knows the names of.

Give your life
to be one of them.