The Guest House

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.

--Rumi--

This is my all time favorite poem of Rumi.  I got off the phone with the customer service rep from Citi Cards and was fuming!  I received a letter saying that they took the payment, but they were unable to identify my account.  Well, I saw the check that the online Chase account sent them on my behalf -- one number was missing.  In the letter it states, "You may also contact the Customer Service number located on the back of your card or from your statement.  Please have this letter available and the information above, doing so will ensure proper credit of your payment".   The customer service guy said that he could take a payment over the phone.  I said, "why would I make another payment when you have already debited my account?"  It made no sense.  So he finally said he can't help me although the letter clearly stated that I could call the customer service number.  Very misleading!!  

I calmed down after reading this poem.  I realized that it was my anxiety that wanted this to be taken care of right now.  Otherwise, I may be late on my payment and I'll be damned if I have to pay late fees and the high interest rate.  I just wanted him to resolve this now!
  

But I realize now that there was no point in getting so worked up or continuing to be pissed off when nothing was going to change.  I just have to complete the paperwork and fax it in and remember to check my account later to make sure that they have posted the payment.  It's just additional steps that I didn't want to have to deal with either.  Now I have to remember to check and if it didn't work, then I would have to call them again and continue to deal with it.  But it is what it is.  I guess instead of anticipating that I might have to deal with it again, I could just fax it in and cross that bridge when and if I need to later.  There really is no point anticipating the worse that can happen when it hasn't even happened and may never happen.  hahahaha!  Many times I act as if I could see the future, and so for this moment I will forego my fortune telling capabilities and just fax the form in.  Done!