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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.6 b) I3 \7 J4 A) h6 P
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Heaven
4 [( ]/ |: ~6 s The pebble is worn smooth * e9 B) O$ j7 p- O6 s; e! {
Made small over time% r6 b; y) l8 X( q/ p D
A product of a cataclysmic force of nature0 y4 l D3 U8 M, [2 Q l# I
A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock
+ s. X" |/ [9 Q- V7 o! x An accidental offspring of a boulder + E' {3 L' q; S( h' k! x
But just a very small stone.
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The pebble's place in our world / l0 f! O2 U$ v, `+ F
Is neither understood nor appreciated
2 G( j$ _/ F! i: V( J But when thrown into a glassy calm pond 1 S& E& q8 f( m$ r* y2 t
Its insignificance is transformed- ], U% G/ H, C
Its meaning and purpose is unleashed.& C1 [3 i- p0 a( i1 }5 ?
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The instant the pebble kisses the pond# d R; X9 u( y1 R% F& D6 Y1 D& N; S
Its signature of concentric ripples & l: a: a" l; b+ ~! ?
Spiral outwards
% {% T0 A+ |+ Z% L/ H6 x6 C Q Moving far beyond itself.5 v; z( V" I' K: q3 F3 Y; C6 h: M
Gently affecting everything in its wake- c- m# s! {) {3 Q
Forever altering the smooth placid surface." n' H8 K+ j, C$ c+ o8 C3 q# D
# d# L5 |/ N$ F C5 ~" U- f) E The pebble creates its worth and meaning 3 l7 g8 ?9 m) Z" [- S! Q& r, |* w
By unleashing its unimagined power? . v9 Z6 w- W6 G, Y
Into a dueling force of action and reaction
: `) S" \3 y/ _6 v% |) L* z Creating karmic energy" x1 x, s* `" f" ]* h o1 T
Producing lasting and fluid impressions.4 ]& K9 g- `2 H0 _
, l$ R% k' R8 T2 n, X Aren't we all pebbles?8 R& Q3 i3 D4 p% P. ?# m) V# {
Feeling small and insignificant
6 H* n1 v' E* e But ultimately recognizing
[6 ~0 g& ?% m' d That who we are meant to be- f7 o7 p8 l& E1 i. J: n+ j
Can never be measured in isolation
8 P U- H( K# b. w0 ~ on a path into ourselves.
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It is true then:6 N8 ~$ Q: n0 H
Our everlasting future
" v/ u4 D+ J! W% p Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles, P( a! d. A) \! T) M: k9 j; v
Into the pond of life' m s2 Y8 \. g, E' {: A
Creating ripples
$ O( u2 h1 a: ~1 ?; P) B that leave unique mark on our world
6 a2 ?7 ^7 p5 r! N Not because of thoughts
, q( [. y9 E$ r5 { not because of well meaning plans |6 b# U1 B0 v& n, l0 Y" N
But because of actions.
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Our life's prayers our answered
% \3 c8 d O; G1 g/ O Because even the smallest pebble % K7 A: n( y/ q
No matter how seemingly insignificant- z- z* O1 O, A* W( h
Changes the course of the lives
/ N' W& I, E+ R. Y0 i4 E Of those we touch.? # n; q! X; l$ m% v7 V7 z
5 c" c! j4 [) P" B( D" v9 j And when the icy winds of death
7 i. ^: p1 x9 k# m5 s' X8 o beckon our lasting attention
3 w& H" ?7 j3 q' d3 e We will gently leave this life k5 X2 s! M0 S- b
With the knowledge that , W! L" g/ L! @& A
because of that one pebble ' |+ M s& f3 W5 l0 v* ?! c/ i
The world will never be the same.7 }1 S/ k. d( a u; H) ]
0 q6 S% D% ?* O- i4 i. q And then we have heaven …0 c0 _7 @% U# ~
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Ross Rosenberg% H$ r N2 ~0 ?
8/18/03 |
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发表于 2010-3-12 06:36
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