 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) U( V; b7 u$ F0 Q( g7 j
) o! f7 ?( E; O
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 w* n% k+ n4 V8 U; B" D( S7 b
5 a; R4 o' @! y" \ b) n
Heaven
7 b% h) Z9 a8 @% _# c The pebble is worn smooth # q' a* M, ^) x8 d8 N/ I+ B' j
Made small over time7 ^% K, u& o; v, C1 U3 F
A product of a cataclysmic force of nature
* o: a5 B7 s+ t A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock) @# ]; }/ y3 d C) u, F: P
An accidental offspring of a boulder B( V4 k- p: q* Q$ e
But just a very small stone.
1 L5 y% f( M' l% @
& V/ D) a. `. V6 ]" j- H" r! m The pebble's place in our world
( v7 }5 B+ O+ c$ D E Is neither understood nor appreciated. ~* r9 R0 U6 C* b, |
But when thrown into a glassy calm pond
' w- @; r2 k0 T6 z8 H Its insignificance is transformed) @% D) D- l& E g" K0 M g
Its meaning and purpose is unleashed.; D3 O! `2 U$ u' R; f' G' f7 n0 H
) ]$ ]( H3 T$ I
The instant the pebble kisses the pond
+ f" q8 H4 C* u0 P; t, b2 j8 s Its signature of concentric ripples 7 D* T7 [4 j, |5 ^) z) X
Spiral outwards
# C& Y* U4 R7 f$ M Moving far beyond itself.0 G# a8 v9 G1 o) A" N
Gently affecting everything in its wake0 f7 O7 [" D' q9 N2 j/ f
Forever altering the smooth placid surface.
! b8 \2 K' N" T, s( {6 a 9 U& Z7 t5 N5 U8 k7 Q) u
The pebble creates its worth and meaning 3 D, l {7 P# a' H& [1 a* i+ ]
By unleashing its unimagined power?
+ U1 s! N7 Q. P R8 \ Into a dueling force of action and reaction. Y* `' {$ l5 @* i9 e* k9 M5 j
Creating karmic energy
1 F" x, A6 {7 O) D Producing lasting and fluid impressions.1 o* r! o: A' q$ o; [
4 ?# q6 y- h+ M7 C4 g# k3 U Aren't we all pebbles?1 S+ M9 E$ ?; Y' L
Feeling small and insignificant# l$ b2 n! h& J4 k3 ?$ T3 T
But ultimately recognizing
1 F) I/ r0 p+ ^' [ That who we are meant to be
0 i6 q7 E9 P; m Can never be measured in isolation0 a% ^! x/ D6 Z2 K5 t4 D
on a path into ourselves.
0 Q* [4 @! o# F" M! q; h& F/ W ) D" I: k5 G, `# C) n+ o+ ]
It is true then:: Q" p7 G9 s T% ^( K2 l. A
Our everlasting future
8 b/ K7 [ ~6 u3 Z, S6 J, S Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles6 v! i. K9 b1 ?$ ^: T+ M6 |
Into the pond of life1 [4 s% o) T! t" h
Creating ripples $ [1 \0 b1 L2 O r" R
that leave unique mark on our world
$ b; m2 U! P3 e+ w1 i& @ Not because of thoughts " _) w7 C; s( G# ]( G4 j$ P( r
not because of well meaning plans
% [# v# |# G) n% D But because of actions. 0 V' T& Q6 \' B5 E
) E2 E; e$ T6 Q# Z3 S Our life's prayers our answered5 _3 D+ D t3 h6 e9 g* |
Because even the smallest pebble 3 f8 w @! I1 z6 S
No matter how seemingly insignificant- ] C6 I- M& C! ^! C" N
Changes the course of the lives
4 y" v& W- ^6 W) q8 H4 @- H' [ Of those we touch.?
8 o# {) f) A" G' o' ?) K
1 r$ g8 F& g6 S4 p And when the icy winds of death' S) s i) o* M3 R* u, d% E
beckon our lasting attention
( `* f# X- j v, d5 I We will gently leave this life
3 Y! [/ n o" x, K/ K* f9 a( l With the knowledge that % m2 U2 Z" _. w
because of that one pebble
4 ?4 n2 g# ~* m. n The world will never be the same.) U9 x0 w6 u* `
& Z) B* t7 o, A7 i0 c6 T And then we have heaven …. M# C2 z& ?. |9 k4 N
1 `% N. M5 W/ f- V& \
Ross Rosenberg+ x( P# M+ D+ }/ x
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