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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. 5 n; N. C9 s |6 f( \+ k
`3 q8 W* m2 B! C+ ~$ Y# U! V 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.
3 x( \+ s5 T& K5 m4 `- F! q % C$ o/ N8 x) I- h
Heaven. M2 s+ h# h7 n. G
The pebble is worn smooth + Z$ t: M2 i$ ~6 M$ z/ W3 [
Made small over time
5 D$ T* p2 g- L+ h. O' y/ M A product of a cataclysmic force of nature) v+ W% x; @ X- Z% ?! r( A
A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock+ [+ i: B4 J7 _1 P
An accidental offspring of a boulder
* g+ E) T+ g# I: X0 K But just a very small stone. : a7 K0 k/ L R4 o
' l. p4 J. U+ p6 _) J The pebble's place in our world ' N) Z- }- Y, `$ {
Is neither understood nor appreciated
; h9 g" U+ z( c c9 D" ~* I But when thrown into a glassy calm pond * U: A% `: g& @ [ o6 e
Its insignificance is transformed
# D7 [7 h V4 R' y Its meaning and purpose is unleashed.& Q s, ^' l6 {- W5 y6 d) I* o
& I% ?# U1 M6 R! Q The instant the pebble kisses the pond# s$ ~: d& l) c# x
Its signature of concentric ripples ( K6 y& r3 m" Y6 I; U: I9 }
Spiral outwards
2 @: C d% L3 P Moving far beyond itself.: _5 K; G( Q1 y4 F' ^( k" y4 Y
Gently affecting everything in its wake7 {0 l7 q+ \7 J3 L ?
Forever altering the smooth placid surface.3 [5 ~' o( W5 p6 n+ g
, b( P" [& c1 L' f
The pebble creates its worth and meaning
& V( Z/ {2 V: I By unleashing its unimagined power?
0 p. {; y5 H- ~ m/ Q0 m Into a dueling force of action and reaction3 D3 k3 d; ^: Q/ m( A1 |* R4 F
Creating karmic energy v, M' x# F4 T9 p4 M h9 P& X% r
Producing lasting and fluid impressions.2 Z5 |& x: Q+ N! L5 U `; T( B
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Aren't we all pebbles?
. L$ N! p0 M5 T z$ n) z; \ Feeling small and insignificant' k) n/ m( l# M4 [/ M% v
But ultimately recognizing
6 l3 Z/ Z) b3 S That who we are meant to be( Y2 F7 L$ M/ K: ?
Can never be measured in isolation) o8 `' m5 I8 \- ]# Z
on a path into ourselves.5 F% o" t/ N: l2 z1 a% T
' e" r' o) {0 }1 { It is true then:5 W+ v6 b, s) c. X
Our everlasting future 2 d2 P+ s7 _1 @9 n3 [( T. n
Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles+ |& B( S/ w6 }
Into the pond of life9 L3 x/ p$ G- F
Creating ripples
/ ~7 f& B9 P8 M! S( E/ D: b6 J" s that leave unique mark on our world
0 G3 O8 }) g5 E' Z* T- e Not because of thoughts
8 ~9 F& I" j8 H" B& d: `! S& } not because of well meaning plans
8 `) Z" T$ |7 w9 [ d T: A p But because of actions. ; _& }+ u ?' m7 v
' u1 e4 B; u" s, `7 Q( r
Our life's prayers our answered8 T X9 u; x- X: v% q4 C5 Q
Because even the smallest pebble
7 B/ Y* O. w& G) h: A No matter how seemingly insignificant
7 T- G. q8 `2 q$ j Changes the course of the lives- \& y- s+ n; m5 n) R
Of those we touch.?
7 w7 {! L' k% z3 ?; d# {
9 n# K, Q; B6 `- J, W" L And when the icy winds of death
, {4 b" m3 p; n. @3 v. m beckon our lasting attention2 M8 i+ e9 E0 V( @) j
We will gently leave this life
& s% k. R9 G7 A2 L: o% D( K With the knowledge that + `+ u- m1 X# d1 G
because of that one pebble
8 {1 s. X5 n. } The world will never be the same.
# [$ d4 z6 S; m 2 B7 F) G* B4 `$ A0 m: y
And then we have heaven …- j+ n$ i) {$ S8 y8 I
- e6 d% k: C% [% _8 a/ }) u Ross Rosenberg
$ w% h/ a5 v7 d, B1 ] 8/18/03 |
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发表于 2010-3-12 06:36
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