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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./ e9 z; @" ~" |
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Heaven* q3 G, R+ v2 ]4 Q
The pebble is worn smooth
0 T" ~8 \' \8 y6 z# p6 o- Y* E3 b Made small over time
6 ^. z6 Z% E4 [/ K& \ A product of a cataclysmic force of nature
P0 @+ h' I" ]0 G A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock
8 P7 w5 z3 `6 ] An accidental offspring of a boulder + J: A T" U B9 S! ^2 d; r# r
But just a very small stone. - c( I& K$ P) R
/ l$ |# z+ t& C! m2 j. `# D( m The pebble's place in our world " j" ?% b. `+ X: _6 G1 d
Is neither understood nor appreciated
4 \. ^. q; C' Z& \! T) n$ Y But when thrown into a glassy calm pond
& E3 b+ _' Z% E Its insignificance is transformed1 B( B! T/ ? H B
Its meaning and purpose is unleashed.' S, l8 |( g/ B! I }% p
- O- P& s4 E4 Z( V! K& y; f! ?; u The instant the pebble kisses the pond
/ K* a. j8 T: h' ?$ R Its signature of concentric ripples
: m1 E6 P) N; F% S Spiral outwards 4 b! O0 b1 r ]4 Q
Moving far beyond itself.
' Z4 b9 d3 J- _4 h% u; S# e Gently affecting everything in its wake
D7 V: c/ Q: f/ l( Q& F Forever altering the smooth placid surface.- q% j0 v: B, U/ y6 r* h
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The pebble creates its worth and meaning
& _3 ]% ?- r/ ~" k2 C6 P By unleashing its unimagined power?
7 c3 }# B, X: j) @) [+ k; F' h Into a dueling force of action and reaction
# N4 i4 s: b+ c2 l! o, a x Creating karmic energy
: Z! v% C. _( y4 t A& s# t, B Producing lasting and fluid impressions.' b7 R) n5 N; x
+ A6 u4 F( J6 ?/ Z Aren't we all pebbles?
% w$ P: C/ a! d9 A6 U Feeling small and insignificant9 w! U S9 S/ @+ i( k& ?
But ultimately recognizing 0 U; `( T* X! n' X
That who we are meant to be
6 K, l2 |6 B6 j) j4 \' ^! s" K Can never be measured in isolation
) B1 ?+ ~ h! E, ~ on a path into ourselves.! ?* ?" K7 F6 K o: Y
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It is true then:) y& x8 J f- [+ Q+ Q# @
Our everlasting future
% a# S: P( c& W( [( _ Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles
4 D' L+ s6 _: y4 V l- j Into the pond of life6 S( a! x' p. h5 T6 M
Creating ripples
2 ?; Y! D/ ?! a e that leave unique mark on our world 8 {. F$ H, E' b
Not because of thoughts
7 ?# b' @ `1 a2 h$ z, a not because of well meaning plans
( D. t. o% H& Y6 K) F But because of actions.
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Our life's prayers our answered0 Z+ A3 M) N- R1 S8 C' u9 w
Because even the smallest pebble
, x& V) m/ M+ g( V6 y No matter how seemingly insignificant+ R! r* B3 t( @7 |
Changes the course of the lives
4 [ F" u; c# |0 n: C6 d: Z% y$ ? Of those we touch.?
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# Y4 q" L; ` b( y+ W8 T And when the icy winds of death
5 O$ H; f: h a beckon our lasting attention
% Q( m, ]% n' m We will gently leave this life
5 V0 N" S. ~# M3 e. e With the knowledge that
& m9 Y% [8 Z2 C5 n because of that one pebble
' f: q, D% |% I1 v* e The world will never be the same.
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And then we have heaven …
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Ross Rosenberg/ |7 t5 ^' N1 \4 F! T+ @4 y
8/18/03 |
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