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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. 9 v3 U* h$ x4 l" F6 f5 }
) C& q" y2 Z7 q0 b$ k 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.( f1 A5 k. T8 x; j
/ d" e' \& U9 v# F4 r* i Heaven$ ]0 e- L5 a' N1 ^! ? V
The pebble is worn smooth
$ y7 Q( Z! @( L0 h; W Made small over time+ {/ r; `9 }; v' o. E( W/ L
A product of a cataclysmic force of nature
5 f1 \0 M' |+ s8 J, L/ F/ l A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock# e M5 a- `3 B6 [
An accidental offspring of a boulder
$ {' W2 ^, z# v( @ But just a very small stone.
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The pebble's place in our world 6 [, }/ J5 _1 @! Q. d& J2 P% n
Is neither understood nor appreciated
: w! L) @& m1 L, _( j But when thrown into a glassy calm pond # u$ `& ~' s6 R
Its insignificance is transformed
O6 o5 i H3 B* E; z Its meaning and purpose is unleashed.
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The instant the pebble kisses the pond
) W) k2 R% U/ B$ _2 L( i) x# c% V Its signature of concentric ripples : t7 q" E& W5 Z+ j) [1 R
Spiral outwards
1 A* z6 ]$ g+ l. W$ w Moving far beyond itself.8 J4 ?! L% H+ W# y
Gently affecting everything in its wake
. Z# A. O! g. p% h% m$ t! i- k2 F/ j' d Forever altering the smooth placid surface.' T9 D8 o9 S- V3 b* c
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The pebble creates its worth and meaning 8 H- `4 I0 i5 D# x
By unleashing its unimagined power?
0 H. @8 L" m$ n+ s Into a dueling force of action and reaction l' F. s/ F R6 u( w
Creating karmic energy5 @* F7 K* x, p8 [
Producing lasting and fluid impressions.% i( r, p1 P' M
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Aren't we all pebbles?
2 {& y7 o4 ]3 _ Feeling small and insignificant
8 I) M h. F' d# w But ultimately recognizing * \# B8 k* i5 K- f2 G' K
That who we are meant to be
! o( I( {1 z. l j- u1 r6 b- i Can never be measured in isolation/ f; u) e3 N& |) x" h& C7 ~
on a path into ourselves.9 S9 K- N3 w1 f3 X
1 y* t$ f% A q It is true then:
; h+ U" x: j# P V$ i- b: X( _9 [ Our everlasting future , w+ a U" @6 b1 Z
Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles( {" u3 y% O- [( o/ o
Into the pond of life
: p& r+ P3 F$ q6 W0 A5 A Creating ripples ; ]8 r# D: P# A
that leave unique mark on our world
& W$ {; o0 {& F. _) k) _) Q Not because of thoughts
3 x/ r0 k0 j9 I2 ` not because of well meaning plans
/ i W& v0 k+ \" r1 p But because of actions.
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Our life's prayers our answered* U D& @6 b$ g6 {: D' Y
Because even the smallest pebble . m$ W) n* ^' P4 X4 e
No matter how seemingly insignificant
' @& @1 _( A/ u7 t/ B2 O% e0 j Changes the course of the lives
1 m4 H. p% S% H. F$ ] Of those we touch.? ' X( O" a/ }1 v/ g$ u
6 g! X7 B1 o1 R" c) W5 @ And when the icy winds of death8 d2 Z( E$ v' v: S0 U0 k( D, q e+ g$ r
beckon our lasting attention
) G, E* a2 t3 y" `4 M% [ We will gently leave this life
8 ?' S0 W( } R' F( {+ E, w With the knowledge that 3 X/ y/ L- S% e @ s) d
because of that one pebble : n7 U3 G4 ~+ j0 H/ T
The world will never be the same.' f6 D# i9 U, `. |( E, _
# k0 Z) a# k6 M4 A& V; j And then we have heaven …' j" {7 g. q: B0 E; I6 |8 O
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Ross Rosenberg& G- f- B" |" }2 G9 a
8/18/03 |
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