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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. - v+ P+ J w) X' J* y% x
( h% q; i4 S. ~' q) h3 L8 ? 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.2 K$ p2 e) j! \* p$ e, A
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Heaven
& l+ a: `/ b( N1 a The pebble is worn smooth
+ w% b! V4 v$ f' z' I$ G3 E) K Made small over time
8 K$ l; Z9 N1 P+ d0 \$ b# w A product of a cataclysmic force of nature
* a3 P a" G5 N8 m0 }: G: w A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock, Q+ u& I. h9 E3 ^- G. V9 [
An accidental offspring of a boulder 6 d2 j8 a( g l" {3 `' X3 V
But just a very small stone. 1 i9 E" \. D) a. }/ f) n
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The pebble's place in our world
9 X+ h- G3 F2 u- a Is neither understood nor appreciated- t* \0 `( A# W+ n! K! v
But when thrown into a glassy calm pond ' F8 N( }( _2 x2 Z/ r: z# _3 D9 D
Its insignificance is transformed, m# ^: t3 e. y9 V" e- C
Its meaning and purpose is unleashed.5 v5 i# k% m& F) J" f/ s% J9 X
+ q5 p8 c3 @9 b# T( a The instant the pebble kisses the pond/ Y7 n+ X- i+ q' w. @
Its signature of concentric ripples 7 p& e: S. n3 Z% T W, C- ?3 o
Spiral outwards
# R2 I7 c/ `4 g! o: ? Moving far beyond itself.
. O+ _! i6 p+ o+ R9 v! }9 x Gently affecting everything in its wake* O1 r' V8 U& n8 r4 E1 I
Forever altering the smooth placid surface.
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: P2 h* r# c" J% U The pebble creates its worth and meaning z8 g/ O! e+ A4 k( T
By unleashing its unimagined power?
4 N0 w5 F% g; o3 L/ o- f! z0 T* x Into a dueling force of action and reaction
: W- R3 a5 Q. g2 o Creating karmic energy
8 o1 F& N; I3 a: P4 y; W" d Producing lasting and fluid impressions.
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4 V2 Q4 @/ ^' y Aren't we all pebbles?
$ ]' u, G: e9 m8 o9 Y Feeling small and insignificant
+ O. Y8 o0 t2 I. G, I' b( h1 J But ultimately recognizing
3 F9 K4 G* T' q) P. w% t That who we are meant to be
0 R& ~9 }2 P# @8 s% t Can never be measured in isolation% M3 i; [( s. u* t, }
on a path into ourselves.4 Y' d( g7 T: f% \
5 T7 u5 Z7 x" ~6 w7 y% P+ i z; a% G It is true then:
: C* ^+ l7 ` _; V3 L, o5 u1 } Our everlasting future ( h3 r$ ?* h8 i5 o
Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles
4 M2 a- N/ c: R4 B9 c% W Into the pond of life; J+ |# W; ^, R8 ?7 J
Creating ripples # t- a( g6 ?) ~! K, u# q4 d6 H
that leave unique mark on our world
5 B Z0 _0 C# U" g Not because of thoughts
! ^4 S6 e2 @7 ?; b; P$ D not because of well meaning plans/ m5 D: B% G; q& f! z
But because of actions. : C9 w: G5 J2 @: E
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Our life's prayers our answered9 x9 W3 [' F7 j+ I
Because even the smallest pebble
/ {$ R+ ?+ U$ I9 M No matter how seemingly insignificant! n4 y$ R: l; h/ z/ b
Changes the course of the lives" k8 s/ }# {6 e1 d$ {! Z
Of those we touch.? ' ~2 p: F q! v n5 e
! }1 y! } R9 ~! H1 T* {- E And when the icy winds of death* M& _1 q% d3 N& s$ Q0 \1 u7 ?
beckon our lasting attention
# i& v5 t3 | G We will gently leave this life
. c1 {% Z- |/ j) W! P* t8 | With the knowledge that + F" ~* N" i( z, M7 F
because of that one pebble z( E. T( B* b; x+ B) H
The world will never be the same.
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And then we have heaven …
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Ross Rosenberg1 T4 @: {% g3 [" Q4 {* }; m+ v
8/18/03 |
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