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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. 8 n6 W5 T' c, {0 ?; _% ? N
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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.
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Heaven, A: T& w/ E0 X" Y6 t X8 |
The pebble is worn smooth * d4 B7 ]1 _/ T$ M& \9 [ r
Made small over time
1 B3 c, [/ w7 F9 h A product of a cataclysmic force of nature
, M. D( Q; c4 M A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock
* c) ^# m8 K9 i+ a$ B; i4 n An accidental offspring of a boulder & G) Y- F6 S# y/ A! m4 F3 F
But just a very small stone. 4 A5 ]% |2 I7 {
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The pebble's place in our world & e1 |7 M/ L2 X6 r3 m( p8 ?) v
Is neither understood nor appreciated
; J' ^& c! B& F1 ]/ H8 | f But when thrown into a glassy calm pond
4 V7 i) y- m2 F6 K Its insignificance is transformed
" v0 i. g7 D& q) ] Its meaning and purpose is unleashed.
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The instant the pebble kisses the pond
! j+ K6 n4 y$ z2 T4 G Its signature of concentric ripples
4 Y1 D5 O9 W4 o& `$ B Spiral outwards
$ p% z- ~. a4 C Moving far beyond itself.1 Q [, Y- c8 f" A- f
Gently affecting everything in its wake
/ |& f/ t" |2 R5 { Forever altering the smooth placid surface." l# ` e" ~# d6 S2 y; P
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The pebble creates its worth and meaning 9 v" F) D7 ~; m9 H. [2 Z% y3 |; \
By unleashing its unimagined power?
& ?% T1 M8 D; I6 c& U3 O Into a dueling force of action and reaction* Z2 ] R: Y) a9 W. M
Creating karmic energy5 E% e( q4 `% i9 T; i
Producing lasting and fluid impressions.
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7 h' T. w+ i0 Y& g4 Y+ c4 ^" V Aren't we all pebbles?. N( `0 `$ i. L K* I
Feeling small and insignificant
4 n8 O& t/ d% [ But ultimately recognizing * j8 x$ O/ A3 R! k; K3 r4 c1 t
That who we are meant to be
( Y7 e- ]7 c+ z7 ]. d9 y Can never be measured in isolation' J; m$ i5 y3 p% Y, u$ w" _: \
on a path into ourselves.
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It is true then:: k4 |5 W6 ~9 O! C) m; L4 o
Our everlasting future 9 R4 R$ n$ D: c5 \8 a2 w, ]
Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles
& X0 z$ d5 V8 h" b; T Into the pond of life
# C3 E: J! M& l9 f7 R Creating ripples
3 K: }9 z, e, ^, R that leave unique mark on our world
9 N) [) n: E8 f2 w6 l+ V Not because of thoughts $ I( b- j" w8 K9 q
not because of well meaning plans9 U# j3 _: @4 \
But because of actions. 6 ^! P6 I% Y E
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Our life's prayers our answered; H( v0 m; @( Z* t, T/ P
Because even the smallest pebble - G$ J2 e3 _. z# [
No matter how seemingly insignificant: t0 N$ o- G F; g3 z. e
Changes the course of the lives
% V+ j, H1 \# t. t$ v7 G Of those we touch.? 3 O1 F4 z0 ]5 Z1 f! m& [* ~# e
* E- d) t9 D' z$ m2 b& j! K And when the icy winds of death, V3 C y5 C& j3 l0 i( K3 V
beckon our lasting attention
& D) U* q' k0 B" ]* J/ J8 V" ^7 Y8 a' K We will gently leave this life # G. X% L- j2 _5 M
With the knowledge that
7 y. T7 G/ T9 k8 I8 c- i because of that one pebble
: Q- v+ G1 E! [% t3 f The world will never be the same.
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And then we have heaven …
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' c2 G" R, C& Q" k Ross Rosenberg9 ]5 f8 N b* w
8/18/03 |
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发表于 2010-3-12 06:36
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