 鲜花( 0)  鸡蛋( 0)
|
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. 1 _) q: l) t# S& p; L2 ^1 ?
9 P" C% s, J( ?; ^3 o0 J9 P
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.! }$ b$ Q" m2 r" v! e
3 A. c% F- K+ H' ?* `! ]
Heaven8 r# }9 J& J, {* Z
The pebble is worn smooth W4 w/ x d( ?0 F+ |6 {
Made small over time7 I$ R+ S5 H5 a$ ?$ u
A product of a cataclysmic force of nature, g* C% [/ R0 N( b
A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock
" T5 h9 ]: \ j4 F; E An accidental offspring of a boulder * C" b2 l% e2 ]- ]: `
But just a very small stone.
" X! a4 Z7 f0 ~" Y6 s * c! v1 j4 {4 @7 S6 c6 o+ Y
The pebble's place in our world
+ J6 Z* Q; ~5 o: v7 V, G Is neither understood nor appreciated, R! K5 B5 s7 Z% a* q/ d
But when thrown into a glassy calm pond + F0 m$ E' ?7 o# e6 d/ p4 X
Its insignificance is transformed& x' Y6 i3 @2 L0 X
Its meaning and purpose is unleashed.# s; D7 s1 E0 l: O& c/ U
3 N& D2 ~! Q/ I
The instant the pebble kisses the pond
2 f) J7 T3 P! [ q2 U! V Its signature of concentric ripples + |* H. v# N8 {: k' @
Spiral outwards + ]. Z% j" M. E* `0 i
Moving far beyond itself.
, n$ c( K1 t3 V) Y6 A1 R: M Gently affecting everything in its wake
3 \; x* f$ ]& v% S" ^( M6 [ O Forever altering the smooth placid surface.8 v3 q+ D% E/ O$ B- R
; |) o" z( G2 g6 @2 P
The pebble creates its worth and meaning % c( {! i# i/ `- `7 o
By unleashing its unimagined power?
% J2 @, Q5 g f5 y. W6 I; [# ` Into a dueling force of action and reaction" o/ A' G5 F+ f! H( c- X
Creating karmic energy; t! W! I4 r- r. O; }$ U
Producing lasting and fluid impressions.- k. G1 O" z. X/ c/ C) V
. g; B: v- I; f
Aren't we all pebbles?
* g1 R+ Y5 r, G3 u Feeling small and insignificant0 a6 F, O/ q# i! s: z" _0 e" ^
But ultimately recognizing
+ f0 d3 u4 a* U That who we are meant to be
! ]1 ^1 Z' v4 y$ J" E Can never be measured in isolation& w+ X/ v5 @- a8 M1 L6 \
on a path into ourselves.& ^& K5 s$ l! U# h% z. N
5 y9 J, C! n9 Q8 E
It is true then:
6 q' n8 y/ c1 A' l0 O" V, Z( _ Our everlasting future 6 h5 [& P/ W* D, [& a! {
Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles& h) k" ^$ e; B. a* c
Into the pond of life
. B7 l' y' O3 E" M Creating ripples
7 m9 i: ]) x3 Q4 m& H3 A that leave unique mark on our world
3 K! h/ c9 i2 l6 O; K1 R. i, S Not because of thoughts
) s- Z. S! G7 h; S' Q! c2 q1 _* D not because of well meaning plans
7 P" }5 u/ D) I' P But because of actions.
3 o+ g, }0 \ q' |( |7 V + H. F. i; W" {$ y; }6 X
Our life's prayers our answered" s! H% _& _" p) M& M. b
Because even the smallest pebble : X( b- E0 J7 t, H" i* }5 D
No matter how seemingly insignificant/ ?7 r. S6 T6 l
Changes the course of the lives! K4 G8 X1 d5 | T" i, b% g
Of those we touch.? 0 ]# m. j( |+ v! l' e% U
( e& ?" \" ]( B4 Q3 q: t% O
And when the icy winds of death
P' x9 q2 e3 x5 L1 e beckon our lasting attention4 d0 D' ?3 X, O) P
We will gently leave this life
. a% E* i: l' m: F With the knowledge that
7 W( n3 _( T0 H- M: E, h; K because of that one pebble # S; Z, `! @2 K+ B } \6 U
The world will never be the same.
: t1 K0 f$ t7 u3 n
8 K2 l5 e$ H! M1 Y$ ` And then we have heaven …0 R0 h7 o8 Y2 t2 q1 d1 r% M
9 h& `* s% \# {# V' d& j2 c Ross Rosenberg
. u. _5 @7 `2 Q& S4 \6 a 8/18/03 |
|
狗仔卡
发表于 2010-3-12 06:36
提升卡
置顶卡
沉默卡
喧嚣卡
变色卡
显身卡