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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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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.- h5 l$ W, Y3 r, J# B
5 I O2 h( Y. V ?. o Heaven6 ~ @7 O- w$ d @
The pebble is worn smooth
N) L6 A' }+ `! j/ n0 G Made small over time: x+ R; j6 Y/ E$ ]2 `3 c( r: K
A product of a cataclysmic force of nature) B5 b: @$ ?0 O
A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock: s; P1 ~' c* S/ W
An accidental offspring of a boulder # E+ I/ n7 Y" u# |( ?* ?
But just a very small stone.
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The pebble's place in our world % y' @2 h; ^9 m6 q% R* |4 C
Is neither understood nor appreciated% u5 C! n( t; F
But when thrown into a glassy calm pond : X* Y! M* U' y, |
Its insignificance is transformed
5 _: S: [' F3 }; B: v1 M6 q Its meaning and purpose is unleashed.
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The instant the pebble kisses the pond
8 `% x1 b& m& }' |1 c5 B* O4 n% D, n Its signature of concentric ripples , O2 R3 x. d Q* U; q" ^( f5 Q
Spiral outwards 1 [4 ~" v% o8 \8 I8 w0 {
Moving far beyond itself.4 U5 `- d% v8 L0 p7 {8 r+ E! ]$ x6 C
Gently affecting everything in its wake, K8 Y t! v& O
Forever altering the smooth placid surface.
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The pebble creates its worth and meaning
. p3 H3 }" X( c* k! o$ a By unleashing its unimagined power?
( k( M$ i- O* m d( w" ] Into a dueling force of action and reaction7 m* R8 Y \2 Y3 \+ j) r3 q
Creating karmic energy9 X, S/ k' k/ q) M1 _1 R
Producing lasting and fluid impressions.! _8 V) X$ }$ |, j+ @: \9 F
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Aren't we all pebbles?
& w- b( ?7 c1 U6 \ I. O2 C6 Y Feeling small and insignificant# a/ d, P; S+ \& ]
But ultimately recognizing % O. c/ h4 G. f3 Q: j: s; B
That who we are meant to be9 T7 k) G* _! ?
Can never be measured in isolation, f' R, n1 F ^. ^- n8 Y
on a path into ourselves.
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1 M4 ?# M2 a5 f$ S4 b8 n It is true then:
* ~; R$ ~' j' {8 ?( P" k Our everlasting future + x4 J; J4 a" i8 R/ @/ c( r
Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles
, U# ~$ T2 b1 n y. u+ I& _ Into the pond of life7 _4 w( @# h. `6 _) Y0 `3 r- p
Creating ripples ) L! X; _& P# n3 n* H# K! _
that leave unique mark on our world
% W( B r. w! M( `! x. m* [ Not because of thoughts + K0 u( k z# p% t% ?5 K0 l1 O
not because of well meaning plans
. H" ?5 M+ e9 y5 m: ? But because of actions. ( Z/ P- x( _4 T: I
3 b! n0 E4 k6 G; h Our life's prayers our answered; m" g& J: F) }8 W. V& C2 b
Because even the smallest pebble $ D0 S9 H3 ~5 T/ U9 v0 E/ g/ n0 K) J6 ?- b
No matter how seemingly insignificant6 ?! j/ K. G- X
Changes the course of the lives' F( W+ g8 ]3 p5 _
Of those we touch.?
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) i9 G; a( f8 N1 h+ o3 `' ]( n And when the icy winds of death& b; D, v8 x3 T9 P2 E* S
beckon our lasting attention8 W( y$ y5 D$ }, C7 i; \
We will gently leave this life ; ^) L8 N1 T- E
With the knowledge that
" Y* u" H _5 v because of that one pebble
1 t& u$ V; o* u; Q" z/ L/ g The world will never be the same.- n6 T( a$ l9 Y4 }
/ _8 I9 U# C1 ?# L! F And then we have heaven …9 i7 t t# L' G4 @4 D; J
9 q2 S# S+ P: L" C4 P Ross Rosenberg# p$ C' `4 K6 i, E/ [
8/18/03 |
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发表于 2010-3-12 06:36
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