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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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4 I; |! m( E. a2 c6 b5 A 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 f' h/ a' C' O6 A1 \2 ~
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Heaven
1 S( J; H, a2 \/ C. h- O The pebble is worn smooth ' [6 D( D# i; c- p7 A6 b. a' p
Made small over time$ K7 ?* J7 S& F! I& W s% c
A product of a cataclysmic force of nature
; V% e; M0 u1 r0 w1 n& T A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock6 q. k9 B1 u$ |( ~6 V" \, `
An accidental offspring of a boulder ; [9 c+ G' W6 g" _3 z7 G! B+ k7 M
But just a very small stone.
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The pebble's place in our world ( m6 ^! c# C `4 W- }" h0 E$ {
Is neither understood nor appreciated
7 D9 c% e. x# ?$ q3 J9 F But when thrown into a glassy calm pond ) E v. b, U; F" M% M; T! e
Its insignificance is transformed, n( T+ t! u' O$ G- X4 q, e
Its meaning and purpose is unleashed.) D: Q2 [' i0 [2 y r$ p) b3 t2 Y
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The instant the pebble kisses the pond. x# F/ ^) i& r% E
Its signature of concentric ripples 1 d) C, i& a5 V& L, V
Spiral outwards $ }/ B* C, s' I. J# R/ E+ ^# A6 t
Moving far beyond itself.& _% H) z/ D3 b& n/ o$ S
Gently affecting everything in its wake
4 J+ \1 I2 G6 g% ~7 y, Z Forever altering the smooth placid surface.4 S' f R% G4 v- c
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The pebble creates its worth and meaning * o: t7 n2 e/ A! O- J% ~/ _
By unleashing its unimagined power?
$ {% C6 i5 ?0 b Into a dueling force of action and reaction
8 a5 G( r# A1 G% m Creating karmic energy
2 R8 S8 [4 X3 H ?9 H8 Y7 [, e2 h Producing lasting and fluid impressions." W, ~- j8 M+ g3 u3 j
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Aren't we all pebbles? {/ L# u% ]& s; X$ B* X) \
Feeling small and insignificant
# {+ _& s9 g: l7 n' E. U- A/ J But ultimately recognizing
9 z' k: s0 i) z2 D5 T That who we are meant to be
( N) `3 Y6 [& } w2 H9 I9 ?9 I Can never be measured in isolation
1 w4 `8 r2 @+ p2 i) c on a path into ourselves.
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It is true then:6 b* A3 ^3 U) M' w
Our everlasting future ~" S8 k) L$ c# d6 s' g
Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles
. F4 T/ _5 G: l# Y5 P9 T Into the pond of life
4 p9 ?" i: c3 J K Creating ripples + a3 P B/ ^+ ~0 F7 T
that leave unique mark on our world 7 n) ?) [ P/ J; _, A5 W$ Q
Not because of thoughts ; C Z0 R m: b0 f( G
not because of well meaning plans
! Q& f$ ?! ? i But because of actions. # J6 E& |. S' o# W8 |
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Our life's prayers our answered c* }. q* v. E- @- H6 \
Because even the smallest pebble
- n& q4 ]0 N2 R No matter how seemingly insignificant# H& N- [5 T3 V1 u# G& S
Changes the course of the lives
0 T5 [) }# t+ K/ F$ J Of those we touch.?
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And when the icy winds of death
/ u1 i" g2 q% C, O+ J beckon our lasting attention3 E- F. O7 r, a; W. u
We will gently leave this life 7 b0 [! q q, h. m! E% f
With the knowledge that 3 I5 u1 B& x3 T- T2 }
because of that one pebble 4 `5 |$ I" ?6 i/ u3 E N m
The world will never be the same.! `$ d! M+ o4 Z- p) B
6 Q0 i- K6 Z+ ?- t6 Q9 ^# E And then we have heaven …( m; y6 k) f4 l. _* W8 ]5 f# c1 \
4 e) p* `7 u4 N: e- v
Ross Rosenberg
7 w" C% v" X4 J& D+ j4 S0 }9 U 8/18/03 |
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发表于 2010-3-12 06:36
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