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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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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.
5 o0 E: p1 M o, h7 j M7 v) z& j+ e1 S% F9 V
Heaven5 L7 ?7 e% e+ |6 [0 S" \
The pebble is worn smooth
" O0 `: H6 Y/ @& x/ X& ~ Made small over time3 ?6 o9 k6 ~4 t& Q! o
A product of a cataclysmic force of nature
$ `$ p/ \, _4 S7 S K$ z1 ] A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock9 _! \" X( T4 K
An accidental offspring of a boulder . O1 K% o J# p. C
But just a very small stone.
* }# e) p1 t' o% [' q, [ * g+ u: P# o1 Y- z5 v% P8 G
The pebble's place in our world
8 w1 }, p S$ Y7 s( F7 [ Is neither understood nor appreciated8 E/ i+ d4 s! ^/ A! Q
But when thrown into a glassy calm pond 0 t- _5 ^5 _0 N3 o
Its insignificance is transformed
' k0 Y* z% g& Z: |: M Its meaning and purpose is unleashed.7 C9 h% F. x* u' D j' w
, d3 L, v9 \2 {) A3 F* R. | The instant the pebble kisses the pond7 ]5 S5 I4 V2 ]$ k+ l
Its signature of concentric ripples ' R9 F2 z: x$ X% x. _0 F
Spiral outwards . f% ^9 x4 t A* U6 q( }
Moving far beyond itself.. B. C3 d, q* z; e9 p; I
Gently affecting everything in its wake
0 Z" N, M2 P) G# p3 {# B Forever altering the smooth placid surface.0 Z8 r* l7 b' w' D6 `. }
# Y7 [! W- d$ e The pebble creates its worth and meaning / K2 B2 r# z. o: s2 ^
By unleashing its unimagined power? 4 t& s E5 c. ] J. z( ]
Into a dueling force of action and reaction) X3 `4 P7 U6 e
Creating karmic energy
9 x% b! A4 Q3 P2 G# c$ A8 k; u& m Producing lasting and fluid impressions." P% t9 B3 X$ z4 k8 d2 h: c
; j8 T4 j h4 B4 l% r3 N: E Aren't we all pebbles?7 U3 o( L# C: Z5 N3 g
Feeling small and insignificant
3 n' {9 K0 F( W But ultimately recognizing
! Z3 _/ L5 W# k9 o! x" t That who we are meant to be
/ g1 f& o; C% a. _ Can never be measured in isolation* c/ f/ X. ]! `# k
on a path into ourselves.' B( `% c$ `; d% d2 e
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It is true then:
Q& Y0 {2 ?( |' C Our everlasting future 2 }) b9 B0 d5 \( T& r w! W
Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles8 o- ~' X) Y' G$ i" T c7 j
Into the pond of life
+ v/ B, X8 ?* K0 t* r Creating ripples
! q3 }5 P: f5 { that leave unique mark on our world : p! |# r+ h' J5 O
Not because of thoughts
M0 Z9 Z& O2 C1 D! o- n not because of well meaning plans7 k7 l+ j# r6 l
But because of actions.
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1 [2 S3 D" l j7 N! Q b3 e) E Our life's prayers our answered8 A; u! x! t" J6 @ ^" R
Because even the smallest pebble
4 Z* J7 [) R# n. s3 G# n. i No matter how seemingly insignificant
3 f n8 K4 \, Y+ k" Z8 V, v! l0 `) \ Changes the course of the lives
2 b2 h( M$ G5 R' \; Y& r3 W Of those we touch.? : d* V& M5 u Y2 S8 e" a- C \
& H3 E$ s5 s0 }8 L9 q And when the icy winds of death
; J) X+ E/ c( r$ l7 M3 z. N beckon our lasting attention
/ f# B* k" n- {3 f2 G We will gently leave this life : A- f; x' D$ v0 |# w
With the knowledge that
. J" N8 W( X& H8 T because of that one pebble
0 {2 S; T+ h. i7 `6 Q The world will never be the same.. ~( W4 Y# L& L R/ K4 Z
1 `& R& j% n+ v; A And then we have heaven …, J$ Q. w1 j; ~$ P& J* A
1 s2 B. U: h7 q* l7 Q* N Ross Rosenberg9 r" |% H, I5 g+ L, z
8/18/03 |
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发表于 2010-3-12 06:36
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