the bounty

through the gift of loneliness, you lead me to love
through the gift of suffering, you teach me compassion
through the gift of my anger, you bring me peace
through the gift of judgment, you show me equanimity
through the gift of selfishness, my generosity is born
through the gift of sacrifice, I am taught to receive
through the gift of ignorance, your wisdom comes to me
through the gift of limitation, I embrace the infinite
through the gift of unworthiness, I am shown my value
through the gift of conflict, I am given peace
through the gift of sadness, I discover joy
through the gift of mortality, my life is filled with meaning
through the gift of confusion, I am brought to clarity
through the gift of arrogance, humility finds its way to me
through the gift of brutality, tenderness prevails
in the wake of your infinite mystery, my sense of wonder is born
in the face of your magnificence, I am filled with awe
holding my hands out to your infinite generosity,
I am infinitely abundant
these are the gifts you bestow upon me
these are the gifts I receive so graciously
and in gratitude, I transmute your gifts
and in gratitude, I return them, transmuted, back to you

©2002 chris spheeris