 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.
* g L1 ]# t5 ^ - V8 X. Z$ [* h6 R/ @ F. P7 _+ z
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.4 X* d* P5 r9 R
, a. J4 s" O$ t6 a- I5 f
Heaven: {0 ^! n/ e/ g! ?9 n& d
The pebble is worn smooth 8 A' B% q9 a. Q: f
Made small over time
, R, f' L/ N/ d4 O C& J. i5 ` A product of a cataclysmic force of nature# n* C; w2 k& g
A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock
8 `9 ~( m3 q8 X' C, k Y An accidental offspring of a boulder
* P. \" B# G/ ?4 y3 f But just a very small stone.
. ?3 T! j' B0 t; y- E5 B
" {8 ~! [. ]( O0 \' j$ u The pebble's place in our world " w5 @& h% Y" }; u4 H
Is neither understood nor appreciated
0 j7 E/ ]) d. p3 q5 j But when thrown into a glassy calm pond
0 x" P) x) I# X2 ]8 S7 N Its insignificance is transformed i F* d$ J# {2 F
Its meaning and purpose is unleashed.
; f% w( [0 a6 V- D7 k 0 E) I% l" J4 g8 V
The instant the pebble kisses the pond
, o% Z" l8 q; J( v1 f Its signature of concentric ripples 4 H' `0 h* F: @! t1 l
Spiral outwards
+ f% \- j( }' @+ y, S Moving far beyond itself.
4 b0 R7 Z9 @# {4 A8 j0 Y- B' d/ C Gently affecting everything in its wake
9 }: Q _+ o/ i% Z Forever altering the smooth placid surface.$ T: V1 |2 S1 X! M6 b9 F2 Z2 V/ B% i
, |$ S h7 y1 Z$ ]# J# ?/ c The pebble creates its worth and meaning
: h; L6 F) H3 S8 P2 g By unleashing its unimagined power?
( ]8 L( J$ ~3 Q! B Into a dueling force of action and reaction
Y$ b2 s( n/ h# w0 o Creating karmic energy
0 z6 W3 j, H2 L1 f Producing lasting and fluid impressions.- R+ O; H4 X* P6 z+ q
" s2 A, X0 c! E" I4 P! l- ?/ H Aren't we all pebbles?# x: k C8 P# L- H3 e
Feeling small and insignificant
( i. |, v! x6 Q2 e5 ^3 F G But ultimately recognizing
, u# W: I( v* ^9 g% x, b That who we are meant to be
2 J% L# F/ L$ T" B& } Can never be measured in isolation- Z! g* b5 `( C: }2 U8 x: Y$ r$ M
on a path into ourselves.
5 {3 T+ H$ Z/ X3 i3 |% l 0 R: G; S3 w# H# L
It is true then:1 B1 O$ h5 W3 E0 B
Our everlasting future 2 j* k8 l7 V' u" e" q0 g* g3 H
Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles
/ w9 V% `& a8 e* I1 Y Into the pond of life
" @$ U7 l! b* @: N9 X/ E% A Creating ripples
% k6 J8 h1 D( E3 Q+ R! { that leave unique mark on our world # ~2 z1 d2 _ W& J
Not because of thoughts
( n4 s- z- F4 K+ }; j not because of well meaning plans3 a' a0 U+ j. J4 p: s; `. G
But because of actions.
0 ^, N) \8 X! R9 h! t# |7 T+ R
$ U- c" H* S1 k: E: i3 z A& ^/ A Our life's prayers our answered
( S; F. z6 L# O# x Because even the smallest pebble
3 u7 J ]" ~* O: j1 g No matter how seemingly insignificant8 n. l1 s w& m" l
Changes the course of the lives2 w+ N4 u- f! e4 d% z/ Q: P n* p
Of those we touch.?
- w# N/ u( ?9 B
) F9 Y4 b9 @8 l, `- @- d2 i) [ And when the icy winds of death7 h( e0 D2 Q/ I& v" c; k
beckon our lasting attention |3 g! s" P$ p8 E
We will gently leave this life . O; J$ r2 v8 c2 ~
With the knowledge that ; y, M7 N7 G, H# `3 h8 y
because of that one pebble
# a w4 f+ R% m The world will never be the same.
$ K1 ?! U# r( Y% ]4 E
( e+ U0 q. [$ o And then we have heaven …) o; f1 f% Y; i D3 p
8 ]/ A8 ^/ z- k G# f Ross Rosenberg
) w7 p P2 L: ? |7 {5 Z 8/18/03 |
|