 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.
/ N! D3 c, L( t/ X' g; n
J+ h. R" C3 E7 C$ L2 C 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 ]9 E4 }9 r# R+ S
: u: d; x/ c4 q0 ^- O8 Z, g) d$ M
Heaven
8 x9 Y2 Q: r! M+ P! p; t The pebble is worn smooth . n: u/ ~1 F* e, r2 G0 [
Made small over time
3 ~7 c' O( S+ `7 s8 g% u A product of a cataclysmic force of nature. `6 v; p; w w. d
A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock
$ }$ i9 E' {* G; W# x" m0 e' e' g3 _" ? An accidental offspring of a boulder
8 e6 s. s: A' v2 p# X+ L# V But just a very small stone. * {. a B2 N; p7 P! ^ q! B
[2 x9 s" l) c( _9 f& _! c/ @5 q
The pebble's place in our world 9 }# W) Z7 R* f% J6 A
Is neither understood nor appreciated. T$ u; w( k6 ]$ b' z
But when thrown into a glassy calm pond ( t$ Y+ [+ e% _* f
Its insignificance is transformed' C# K' P$ U# }% g' o1 P
Its meaning and purpose is unleashed.
1 m" [) c7 B: r' R8 N$ G# E) K 8 P! y- g* e1 d
The instant the pebble kisses the pond
& C( m/ \* w6 ~+ K! ` Its signature of concentric ripples
( E3 D; O, b$ ?* z Spiral outwards % i% J7 n6 V8 J- a
Moving far beyond itself.
/ L5 ?" W% X0 K% S Gently affecting everything in its wake
$ I9 q. t; u) v Forever altering the smooth placid surface.; h% E! s1 f$ L4 `9 j+ v ]/ k
# k* r Y0 K; P# ]
The pebble creates its worth and meaning * w7 s1 K& \7 [# W9 K
By unleashing its unimagined power?
7 \& z& y+ N; c. K; D; q1 X! Q Into a dueling force of action and reaction" r# [ ^7 O% W/ _% P& S
Creating karmic energy
& T0 N2 W+ Y. l2 J2 x( G" y, q Producing lasting and fluid impressions.+ T7 _# N b# r4 ~# t& u- L
1 p: o! ^- v# `6 R Aren't we all pebbles?) D1 l8 j& z5 P1 v4 N4 u) t* D
Feeling small and insignificant' _4 N! y6 p* E1 @! R; A+ r
But ultimately recognizing 4 J: H: L- f9 Z$ p
That who we are meant to be
0 J8 z* k; u5 d0 o: e! m( I Can never be measured in isolation
' |: \) n2 K6 J. [: r# a on a path into ourselves.
8 r4 b# }) J2 p/ k) B
2 R& N/ V4 i$ @0 z& N It is true then:7 r" E+ m/ v- g& X
Our everlasting future 5 a* o9 a+ P& G, \9 A
Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles, s9 {( [1 m/ J, ?) P
Into the pond of life
! u& ^! `, |8 v- A; f: W Creating ripples
7 s n ?# q5 P' f that leave unique mark on our world + e* K% \" u# h
Not because of thoughts
# {& v4 w* z s6 ]4 y not because of well meaning plans
O5 U7 O. a9 c- U But because of actions. 8 A$ l( U) a* Y0 e- t% m* ~7 t
3 [8 w1 u/ J) f% F) R- U) O( g( u% n
Our life's prayers our answered" g! J, {" v5 Z5 T& {9 U5 X7 O
Because even the smallest pebble
( Q$ _5 k" }# E( A2 e! A$ y4 u No matter how seemingly insignificant' S, [( u7 X( z! G7 W3 L: M
Changes the course of the lives; i) E0 o4 F8 y" y4 B- ?- x; m& h
Of those we touch.?
* O3 U. t @& K
4 D3 ]; h- L( _; m- }, ? And when the icy winds of death
4 l4 m: {+ t! C9 h* [# A% C2 { beckon our lasting attention/ O8 t1 Y, B M. M$ a- p
We will gently leave this life ; n9 U) g, z! v' ?; i5 c& Z
With the knowledge that 1 E% a p4 e3 s6 k! U2 V
because of that one pebble ( o2 X5 N# `4 p' m. e/ J3 ~$ I
The world will never be the same.
) R/ e2 F$ I4 z
2 g# [! i Q' n# k+ R1 i And then we have heaven …
; E S* R. Q, f , t7 L1 c: z# g8 c9 G
Ross Rosenberg5 V( N/ V3 w5 |! A" M
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