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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.
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Heaven$ w$ R& g, W L4 x. J. n) ]
The pebble is worn smooth ' N( c# p8 V, h6 {
Made small over time
. |- i; M. Q3 n% O3 o x5 \, j+ E A product of a cataclysmic force of nature1 }% D: @8 L. Z2 X6 E7 R/ I
A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock% ^* z2 x8 [5 e2 S
An accidental offspring of a boulder % [" ]) A2 h' f2 G) } F3 h
But just a very small stone. 7 T$ c+ E$ Z: T0 D" Z
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The pebble's place in our world - z, N% Q* \. s E( \: @7 I) u
Is neither understood nor appreciated
9 y Q0 k* j9 I- _( M* O But when thrown into a glassy calm pond 6 K) S4 i/ a3 G4 J1 n
Its insignificance is transformed
* H" D( k5 q; x Its meaning and purpose is unleashed.
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The instant the pebble kisses the pond
) ]' S. H, k0 X/ D; a Its signature of concentric ripples , N( o; ^$ f; x6 Y7 L
Spiral outwards ) Z4 p) a! T' M- \8 O/ |
Moving far beyond itself.
2 @2 V8 g: L! F& O) T2 G6 }/ N8 q Gently affecting everything in its wake
9 T$ |; e2 F0 q* s3 {( T: L Forever altering the smooth placid surface.
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, Y! I9 e- L. J5 d3 H! H3 Z; B1 @ The pebble creates its worth and meaning
0 g7 ]# H* s; v1 @/ W. ?# S By unleashing its unimagined power?
/ {; R+ d! o5 h" l( `4 G/ A Into a dueling force of action and reaction j: b# D4 C& k* U. @: \% z
Creating karmic energy) J1 X4 w. L- _, d$ {: D
Producing lasting and fluid impressions.: m/ |* q% Q( k7 x, h3 K# q
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Aren't we all pebbles?* k. `" R6 [% |) p: t1 ^
Feeling small and insignificant
+ L I4 k4 o: H6 T( U% J0 p4 r. D" e But ultimately recognizing & C# ~% `: e# T8 o+ ~* X6 N, i
That who we are meant to be! ?6 k* w8 Z$ I; {. H
Can never be measured in isolation
5 B0 v2 ]1 J o) r8 A# l on a path into ourselves.
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It is true then:
1 r k9 [: d$ o- ~ Our everlasting future ' y, Q: U* H/ w! c8 M% M) K
Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles
0 z3 F4 t$ P2 {7 }! O4 B- B* X Y Into the pond of life
. y2 A8 g d# u; ]0 v Creating ripples
3 T% l; S6 |" {0 y" v4 _& \ that leave unique mark on our world
3 t/ @2 r$ d3 d6 ?. P D Not because of thoughts 3 ?/ S) W3 g9 R3 N9 H
not because of well meaning plans
5 c+ A9 k% _ ]( U) H: c But because of actions. * m3 f2 B3 y" o* d
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Our life's prayers our answered9 M/ v0 e, L/ w1 k+ T5 Z
Because even the smallest pebble
: @' h- x) n) f No matter how seemingly insignificant4 R8 X0 S8 T, l0 s6 s
Changes the course of the lives1 y$ ?! a1 g+ z3 P
Of those we touch.? 7 _6 ?2 B. w$ t# s# T7 g
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And when the icy winds of death% q4 s, l" x; F. y- C, w( r2 t9 c
beckon our lasting attention2 A4 u% U) @) m8 a1 r; ]( v9 F: i
We will gently leave this life " q: r5 w2 y: I/ G* d
With the knowledge that
( a; y0 ~ Q9 G4 n6 q( h8 i because of that one pebble + Y' I# G$ J/ ~! I
The world will never be the same.
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. _6 i+ I3 Y) R1 B/ P And then we have heaven …1 i5 f. B* Z2 g& m* L
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Ross Rosenberg
4 [( P: s+ \; u# K Q* v 8/18/03 |
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发表于 2010-3-12 06:36
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