 鲜花( 0)  鸡蛋( 0)
|
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. " j- B7 N# |7 A, j; @
4 Y+ U8 i8 U* H o, N 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.
" \9 G' G. d0 @" q
9 }- O! f5 K+ N/ O" Z( Y Heaven
( q5 o+ \# |, U5 R: t% q2 W0 E The pebble is worn smooth 4 o' X+ d$ }$ l4 {* k
Made small over time
$ j+ t' r& t, h; s8 ] H A product of a cataclysmic force of nature; m; O- Z8 s5 ]- S# }$ S# T
A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock, g4 P3 A* V" f# S, v6 K
An accidental offspring of a boulder
, h9 @- D& u- q; ?. x But just a very small stone.
; |- M* T% f, \4 |6 u% r
% V) e4 k) W3 [+ N. {1 x# \ The pebble's place in our world - q/ _8 ~) F& u5 u6 V9 e- l
Is neither understood nor appreciated
1 ^) l8 A8 F" B" f8 K But when thrown into a glassy calm pond # M% y7 }& G5 D
Its insignificance is transformed
. K3 g w5 J6 x% h6 w Its meaning and purpose is unleashed.
8 U, i$ k$ k7 L- l( r : D" ?2 [% Y2 n' } K" }
The instant the pebble kisses the pond
# R+ y2 q+ I. i Its signature of concentric ripples
3 {5 w# t0 `. t# v Spiral outwards $ w# Q, s' h. }& c
Moving far beyond itself., `0 T3 q, D9 h8 C" ]6 o C+ W
Gently affecting everything in its wake8 z# M: R1 m; b5 N% ]+ M, G
Forever altering the smooth placid surface.' j1 `) O0 M% I& V
+ F* o1 F, `! |1 B/ ?8 V9 b The pebble creates its worth and meaning
' H& F! I, G1 g, ^ ?9 h By unleashing its unimagined power? & I4 s% _9 ^& j9 R+ }
Into a dueling force of action and reaction8 k u7 w4 d/ @* C0 W2 I2 ]* u" U0 t
Creating karmic energy; R* N8 y" ?/ B9 D
Producing lasting and fluid impressions.) O9 r+ w3 {3 \4 r7 m
7 d; M- M; d, |0 s
Aren't we all pebbles?
+ O! K: p: w. x7 d( ` Feeling small and insignificant
# ]3 M5 D/ O- k; c6 v1 ` But ultimately recognizing - d3 ^ R; @+ ~3 m
That who we are meant to be
8 U* n+ j, W' a Can never be measured in isolation, C1 w$ i O& F4 ]9 D0 |
on a path into ourselves.
0 Z- y, ~: C6 u: J
8 u5 [$ Y- q8 @ It is true then:% ~& c( {* i( r [& W4 D8 L
Our everlasting future " x- E& m( W; {4 G6 u
Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles& Z) w- O, L/ e& I
Into the pond of life% @7 m) _2 q: F' n! \4 R8 \* Z
Creating ripples ; s3 U ^: j( f1 o! w3 {& ]5 T
that leave unique mark on our world % b- x/ E8 \+ u5 v. w _ c
Not because of thoughts * ]% e# |: p! z- V7 E
not because of well meaning plans% X) F/ D) y/ `+ h; M
But because of actions. " R! `- d+ I( b
( S# P& [7 C+ [- V$ _" D' V4 t% {
Our life's prayers our answered% ~8 c ?# \; h
Because even the smallest pebble 6 Y) e; J7 X8 M |' b; n! {
No matter how seemingly insignificant0 R/ E; m$ B, K0 i) a. O# L
Changes the course of the lives
& p; h9 {* z t' A Of those we touch.?
5 t! f5 B, K s7 ` 9 W" M1 ]- i _" V8 h2 ~
And when the icy winds of death2 }- l+ f7 R8 z9 D# O1 B% y
beckon our lasting attention
% e& G0 T0 x9 |. b- B; J5 V We will gently leave this life
+ p6 j n* F5 A$ t: V With the knowledge that $ e$ V+ G* }; l
because of that one pebble $ M1 Y8 I: y. _4 h
The world will never be the same.9 P# ]: N- b3 ~
, q2 V" |/ J% q8 I% \& S+ _2 d And then we have heaven …
6 b7 U# h( l% r6 s3 l 5 _, ~$ ^ `" b; f, L# O9 o4 w
Ross Rosenberg! m. D0 a9 g- z7 X; W" L: W
8/18/03 |
|
狗仔卡
发表于 2010-3-12 06:36
提升卡
置顶卡
沉默卡
喧嚣卡
变色卡
显身卡