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Seven years ago I was asked by a friend if I was "religious and if I believed in God?" As a (formerly) practicing agnostic I quickly answered:"no." However, I defended myself by explaining that I lived my life according to universal principals of "right and wrong" (as I understood them). Because I believed that our deeds create a lasting effect on the world, I felt confident in my everlasting future. In other words, I wasn't worried about there being a heaven or not. I told my friend that when I die, I am banking on knowing that my impact on the world will be ever lasting. My "heaven" will ultimately be the creation of the the sum total of all my actions.
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# T( A, P4 e" G" l! W1 x I will never forget my friend's response: he looked at me with glassy eyes, and told me how deeply spiritual I was. I didn't see it. It took five more years to see what he meant. Such was the inspiration of the following poem I wrote.% u M3 T. I7 h! r
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Heaven
2 F7 G4 [* I1 _0 k: q+ Y* y3 F, Y6 J The pebble is worn smooth * i# a* A, S6 K }. _& G8 X
Made small over time
' d, w+ p( O" e: R; T A product of a cataclysmic force of nature
+ D0 ~' x: P; q' l! k, x# r A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock1 _/ G/ c) i# C) Y) A
An accidental offspring of a boulder ' W' t7 \1 Q1 v" X& O
But just a very small stone.
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The pebble's place in our world 2 a' l6 W2 P2 x& q# V* C, J* z
Is neither understood nor appreciated
2 V9 F1 @: m) ` But when thrown into a glassy calm pond 0 G- e3 y, I9 v2 s% R( H8 Y
Its insignificance is transformed
/ u. ~3 Y2 H6 _+ c. n Its meaning and purpose is unleashed.
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The instant the pebble kisses the pond
$ {! [ `) g+ ?& I8 I6 A8 k6 B) _ Its signature of concentric ripples * b% J7 s- O& Y- s. N" j
Spiral outwards " n/ S6 I9 r% Z k' ?
Moving far beyond itself.
! O; b4 n* c1 O& z+ h Gently affecting everything in its wake
) N3 u. f. B' W! u% s" v Forever altering the smooth placid surface.
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The pebble creates its worth and meaning
t: a: g( N m% @ By unleashing its unimagined power?
, C) h7 e5 U n/ Y; f) P! x3 ] Into a dueling force of action and reaction
/ A2 @6 b6 e5 L/ s Creating karmic energy* j2 [5 o" Q: i
Producing lasting and fluid impressions.& @% ]8 Y+ B: h4 }! I8 s, N" s
+ D) U* ?: V+ J" M/ p" ^1 V Aren't we all pebbles?
3 w' U- c5 C3 _4 X* P+ g Feeling small and insignificant7 D' a0 ^! q |/ y' T6 L6 W0 C( m0 v
But ultimately recognizing 4 q" e% H. E+ K" g+ ]* y$ G$ y7 O
That who we are meant to be/ {/ _8 t% C2 c3 S" x
Can never be measured in isolation
& [: ?8 L e4 d) k2 R, |5 [2 S2 r, ` on a path into ourselves.
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; g% I$ A4 q. y( z/ Y% k6 @ It is true then:3 p- {+ n8 y6 h2 c) J
Our everlasting future
& @* ]: `) F! h* j Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles" r) Y6 R% X2 T3 }" h0 ~7 q
Into the pond of life$ k- n3 `. Q4 P/ ]" c6 d2 k
Creating ripples
, Y4 |. n9 W' j# G+ ~/ n- [2 d0 {0 M that leave unique mark on our world % M' ] p5 }; b9 q4 N, N9 u; d M
Not because of thoughts 8 I4 q# o9 m5 h/ \1 Y9 T" B
not because of well meaning plans
+ d n( w8 l& j0 t$ X! X; w0 o But because of actions. * Z+ c# A1 p2 h* }
& k; z: m5 c+ w- X# k; | Our life's prayers our answered) L0 W Q/ n* [0 f5 X- f) ?
Because even the smallest pebble 3 j/ p* ` m' r i& h
No matter how seemingly insignificant0 G$ H0 O. E8 p
Changes the course of the lives
, h) z" g- ~9 R& I+ I M Of those we touch.? 2 H3 n8 R2 y0 s; Z5 s
; o, f) O5 N% ? And when the icy winds of death
7 L. ^% s' j9 k' ?! N- M$ N' e) w beckon our lasting attention' @7 x. c- b2 b
We will gently leave this life 4 Q9 r8 c9 C6 f
With the knowledge that 1 F# M0 N1 Z+ j, }
because of that one pebble ; U3 Q2 b' u! h$ z
The world will never be the same., X- J& B v. h0 r; u: V& i4 c
2 T) U9 Y" Q& v5 E And then we have heaven …" d( e, y( Y* o! `( H
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Ross Rosenberg. @, C/ j7 j6 [# q# \# N ^
8/18/03 |
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发表于 2010-3-12 06:36
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