Another poem that I’ve come across recently, and that has really had me thinking is this, by Rumi:
Love is recklessness, not reason.
Reason seeks a profit.
Love comes on strong, consuming herself, unabashed.
Yet in the midst of suffering,
Love proceeds like a millstone,
hard surfaced and straight forward.
Having died to self-interest,
she risks everything and asks for nothing.
Love gambles away every gift God bestows.
Without cause God gave us Being;
without cause, give it back again.
This poem, in so many ways seems like a companion to the Hafiz poem, which you can read here. The line that keeps ringing in my own head is “Love gambles away every gift God bestows,” because it speaks so deeply to our need to follow our own passion, and act on our own gifts. It is our deepest calling to “gamble away” each of our talents and gifts, out of love and respect for ourselves. For truly, the more we give of ourselves to others, whether it be through song or poetry, acting, designing, writing, leading, doing math or medicine, the more enriched everyone’s life is. By following the deepest love of each of our hearts, we come to know our purpose, and can serve each other fully. This is true in work, in play, and in relationships. When we give more of ourselves, we will always get back more than we expect.