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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. ) x8 L0 y+ d. p, B4 x
, y" x7 E% k R9 x3 |& J 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.
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$ e, N0 t& K/ A Heaven( M8 m& N* C- i$ G0 A' P9 S
The pebble is worn smooth 7 p7 q+ H' Z( c5 o
Made small over time* Q L; R7 f5 k) T" O& M) m
A product of a cataclysmic force of nature
, E; A" Q' ~& T0 l* M4 D3 G0 F A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock2 \2 @' g$ z1 I1 J" B
An accidental offspring of a boulder
3 c7 K) h* d2 f6 V8 Q) z8 h7 L But just a very small stone. 4 q# V: R. ?# n
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The pebble's place in our world
% t2 l+ n/ V l9 T6 o# F3 A Is neither understood nor appreciated
- \6 ~4 D3 o4 J' f But when thrown into a glassy calm pond ; l1 G7 [: A h5 R( n0 _/ Z
Its insignificance is transformed5 F( a o; Q' M) a4 s
Its meaning and purpose is unleashed.( |* K- k+ S+ u. F" p G
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The instant the pebble kisses the pond
" \( D) a: d! E' n4 A# E9 B8 q Its signature of concentric ripples . v5 @6 T1 V4 B: t/ [" U/ f |* o
Spiral outwards
& V+ M/ O# l4 [8 @( J- y Moving far beyond itself.: L7 |1 C0 }! t; @; P7 S
Gently affecting everything in its wake! i$ V5 G- N d% z' I8 V6 k( ]8 X9 \/ ?; G
Forever altering the smooth placid surface.
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& m0 d# f" d3 z' V! t ] The pebble creates its worth and meaning
! p" }: F0 q, z$ X By unleashing its unimagined power?
0 S8 ?1 v1 B# O0 K& \5 B Into a dueling force of action and reaction
* V/ I$ q9 u7 E" h Creating karmic energy W" e, ]- s, A. k+ e
Producing lasting and fluid impressions.
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Aren't we all pebbles?
! x( x) U% S0 \2 J Feeling small and insignificant& b2 ^/ v A5 Y4 g* m! J$ A4 n
But ultimately recognizing
' u8 A3 l' j/ ?* @ z That who we are meant to be
8 I1 j c+ ]8 G q1 o Can never be measured in isolation
* h$ G& o( s* Y \# Q" f9 ^ on a path into ourselves.
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It is true then:
% K b, M! [, n% z* d Our everlasting future
! z2 H# i t1 ?; a Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles
6 |; U- {* f- ~! ^+ ^3 }7 s( L Into the pond of life
/ _ F' w) e9 t: N, R3 y Creating ripples v3 _* r% z4 y
that leave unique mark on our world 6 i$ `7 S2 y7 X# F2 m$ N
Not because of thoughts & w4 E" t) x( p; v; F; T) k" a" n
not because of well meaning plans
- D. D. \/ H+ C P But because of actions.
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, b8 P/ L; p9 t b Our life's prayers our answered
+ o' n$ ~. [0 J# o3 | Because even the smallest pebble
) o; q. J* J) j; N! S: V No matter how seemingly insignificant
9 R' ^5 F p: V* G( n' h Changes the course of the lives5 C% r! u9 L4 D2 e/ \
Of those we touch.? # z: B6 w. b1 E5 S
; \: p3 u/ E {+ |5 L+ C9 _ And when the icy winds of death
; {6 a E; k6 r0 _% T0 v beckon our lasting attention, R* n4 P; h: M# J
We will gently leave this life * Y! ?* k7 u L# R0 E" }4 k
With the knowledge that 7 O+ N# a& M8 w. q+ l
because of that one pebble 6 ^! [1 s2 f! D1 G+ x. P/ |
The world will never be the same.
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And then we have heaven …# v! g& t. c$ N* }) e/ I
& o, t/ P! c! `- |* y3 s e9 {
Ross Rosenberg
0 D3 m G. M5 C' Q( P1 h r 8/18/03 |
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