 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.
3 M1 R/ ~. N P8 h8 p $ g% Y5 h% I7 H& b
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.6 P+ D! c$ S/ j+ V8 Z
2 z! ^, }0 `- b
Heaven6 J' A6 R$ X N! G6 W, ?
The pebble is worn smooth % V* S5 H9 L! U" d4 K0 t
Made small over time! f, z/ U1 D k& ]
A product of a cataclysmic force of nature/ E9 H( ]2 e0 L" V) `8 s( x
A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock) C, z% q3 X/ O: v( z
An accidental offspring of a boulder
" X. A8 a# Z7 x4 {1 ^4 } But just a very small stone. 8 k3 e) v' d! U: V
5 N( X2 e2 |' c4 O
The pebble's place in our world
! L* l% C2 H. B/ U5 Z Is neither understood nor appreciated
1 X. Q% e: N2 i U( e( r% d But when thrown into a glassy calm pond
0 V8 _& p: O: I% `: N Q, W* G Its insignificance is transformed
* _+ n8 o# h5 d3 W! [% A3 B( u5 s, U Its meaning and purpose is unleashed.
) P( B% i6 N) H - l! n) T, x% w1 ?) c1 ^5 T4 U. G
The instant the pebble kisses the pond
$ [5 j# {+ v, v( W0 m: Q# | Its signature of concentric ripples
8 T, L! M% C# c- o7 C Spiral outwards 6 ~1 y; P: e( r7 I6 A
Moving far beyond itself.
+ O; g* ^7 F. r& j Gently affecting everything in its wake
1 {( X4 p/ g5 j9 x9 m9 s Forever altering the smooth placid surface.
# @9 Z" |! O. }5 i0 \$ S1 i; ~' b . {, a: I* i1 V& | u4 q0 x) p
The pebble creates its worth and meaning $ s5 m! _9 I x( e
By unleashing its unimagined power?
: g+ ^ q' J# Q q+ k' | Into a dueling force of action and reaction
6 R. B$ f! m& J W. O& q4 C Creating karmic energy
; [: p& a2 C# S: L: h( p, p Producing lasting and fluid impressions.
1 Z3 U6 R0 e2 ? $ O: h0 b2 Q7 D% @1 r6 f) b
Aren't we all pebbles?
# b0 w) p4 f. m" d Feeling small and insignificant2 A1 Y9 e8 E2 G+ Q5 `' o
But ultimately recognizing
! Y4 p1 X' z. K' X% z& T That who we are meant to be
& s4 [# S8 I8 T, n; X ?" D Can never be measured in isolation. Z- u1 P9 w3 K* h( S" I% Q+ z
on a path into ourselves.
: b+ t# G1 M9 s! Z 7 |5 W2 C7 b+ Z5 a& s! k
It is true then:& X/ o6 [. S8 v, S, {: p
Our everlasting future * i; ^) G/ i3 }& n
Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles
- n h% X$ r! g Into the pond of life- N+ V; `: |" R2 w: h/ h+ v
Creating ripples 5 R9 L: P: d& g8 m9 \9 n
that leave unique mark on our world
" v6 t- O9 i" T8 D/ X: Z1 S; M Not because of thoughts 1 { D1 E3 Y8 k, B2 {2 l' I
not because of well meaning plans% a% S" [" ?1 q: @: i
But because of actions.
8 |3 |& p5 `# C* W 3 k! d0 ^! w2 D
Our life's prayers our answered3 M, ^7 O3 K5 ~9 o8 P$ q9 p1 v( \
Because even the smallest pebble
& I: D" I. A) Z( C. ? No matter how seemingly insignificant! R5 q( R; c1 ~
Changes the course of the lives
! B" z; Z3 ^- i. |( t' ~0 V! h Of those we touch.? ) d) t" c' w8 H" u
4 m% v" l) c( U4 K5 T' a
And when the icy winds of death, p+ }% i W Q( }. \' b+ K
beckon our lasting attention( r5 P$ N! \, H" L9 _- q
We will gently leave this life 3 k% Z- p B3 G2 U, r
With the knowledge that $ D* q7 N1 [- B$ s4 ^6 B
because of that one pebble # c4 I: V* B0 q+ D4 M5 N$ a
The world will never be the same.
+ S* r6 o3 X) A: b8 ~- a
$ D9 c0 Q- [4 L5 u& L2 D And then we have heaven …
+ a9 D. h% u. m' b9 w
* h, o+ ~; @. t Ross Rosenberg
! i& f+ S3 x4 W8 ?7 @ 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