Back in the mid and late 1980's when I gave introductory talks on
A Course in Miracles in Kansas City through a Continuing
Education program at UMKC, a small group formed which turned into a
circle of friends. One of those friends was
Wayne Courtois, a writer. He wrote the poem,
What Have I Done With the Gifts of God? based on his study of
A Course in Miracles. It was published in early 1990 in
The Spirit's Voice, a newsletter from Wilmington, VT (I
believe it is no longer published, though there are some with similar
sounding names.)
I rediscovered the poem as I was going through things that had been in
storage for years. This is a lovely and thoughtful poem. The back and
forth between the ego self and our holy self is inevitable in this
earthly life and that is something we can all do well to remember.
Then we can use that to remind us to forgive each other and ourselves
as needed. I contacted Wayne about publishing his poem on
Fromoutoftheblue.com and he said go ahead. I am happy to present it
for all to read:
What Have I Done With the Gifts of God?
What have I done with the Gifts of God?
Did I store them in some forgotten corner
With all the umbrellas I needed when it rained?
Did I hide them in a treasure chest, locked as tightly
As that portion of my heart I thought was mine, and mine alone?
Did I give them to the poor, and then think I had none left,
As though giving were losing, diminishing my strength?
What have I done with the Gifts of God?
Weren't they here just yesterday, when I felt a breath of peace
Infuse a body that had only known anxiety and pain?
Didn't I feel, when I awoke and saw the sunlight on the rooftops,
That God and His Abundance were part of me forever,
As I was part of Him?
But then a shadow seemed to fall
Across the sun, I felt the chill of death and loss
And bid them enter, welcoming illusions
Into a void that was illusory as well
And yet familiar, having been my home
As long as loneliness had been my only friend.
But I always had the answer to my question,
Had the objects of my search before the search began.
I couldn't see the Gifts of God as long as I refused to see
Beyond the body's vision; couldn't find the Peace and Love
I longed for till I learned I did not search alone.
The Gifts of God are you, my friends, with me
As I am with you, in this room or when we seem to be apart,
In this life or in our lives to come, one undivided spirit
Sharing in the Gifts of God, extending thankfulness and praise
That what we thought we'd lost will never seem misplaced again.
The Workbook - EPUB Edition
