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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.& p3 r) V) E5 K. X& v! ^
) W2 {: Z: h/ h ?) \ Heaven; \$ f- b7 ~4 A- T) s8 |$ g+ ]
The pebble is worn smooth : _* i$ o* |7 z9 }
Made small over time* b: [# _% U. ~( t0 [7 @
A product of a cataclysmic force of nature5 \# j/ d/ p6 ?; @; L0 t1 s3 }
A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock
h$ R/ c5 e, x/ w: e$ c An accidental offspring of a boulder
$ r1 A# B7 a9 P: |; Y4 A. ? But just a very small stone. & d/ ?0 E/ R* g- u# E
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The pebble's place in our world : J( A6 R7 P! v9 M$ I% c
Is neither understood nor appreciated
1 z/ w$ Q( ?, u4 ]" J) [7 P& X But when thrown into a glassy calm pond
2 d4 K& |+ S4 C1 J Its insignificance is transformed
. H) g3 V4 C& C' P0 t3 F, H Its meaning and purpose is unleashed., t8 }/ I3 a- Z7 P+ Q2 t' n
0 G2 a( T/ X w. k& S1 G The instant the pebble kisses the pond
8 }& V! y" j4 c; ?4 P5 W Its signature of concentric ripples ; a& c Q; j+ {9 W( z) D7 `* }
Spiral outwards , m$ q" Y+ D4 s7 ?0 i: n
Moving far beyond itself.
' Q3 u$ e! T( ^3 L$ Q Gently affecting everything in its wake
% C/ H+ l5 j. I/ I7 b9 k/ ~ Forever altering the smooth placid surface.4 m* e8 k, b' h+ G5 N) Q/ s V. P# Y
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The pebble creates its worth and meaning 3 h* Z5 A) g9 g8 ?0 s+ |; O
By unleashing its unimagined power? 9 z! B" ~8 p" S8 L9 ^8 B5 ], x4 e
Into a dueling force of action and reaction
2 f4 B1 N0 U" P5 U# z Creating karmic energy! n8 @; m6 ~( l2 L- n8 l
Producing lasting and fluid impressions.
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Aren't we all pebbles?8 F- s, N/ ]5 s& z" F
Feeling small and insignificant
; a6 \3 K2 k" R3 O0 x1 p5 D- ^ But ultimately recognizing 6 w8 U5 A$ W( _' ^" {+ F
That who we are meant to be
5 @3 R5 f6 T- k! \7 F% \; Q. g Can never be measured in isolation
( X) s) x1 Y: f; s- W on a path into ourselves.
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It is true then:0 S a, Z. Z+ S2 v
Our everlasting future - L: l+ q* |' q
Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles
6 |& n6 t) M& q1 f0 v Into the pond of life* R3 @, L: c3 ~$ k7 D ^# A
Creating ripples
0 Q9 }$ r1 t$ @0 Y5 R6 P that leave unique mark on our world
! E3 w% O4 }( S0 Y# C Not because of thoughts
( L7 p P, g4 o6 C0 e' M8 H" H1 } not because of well meaning plans$ H, t) r% g" n/ K) d9 E$ W# l
But because of actions. + ^# Y* z3 e, j, Q9 ]
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Our life's prayers our answered5 c8 x( L( p Q
Because even the smallest pebble ! K& e- f% F3 o: j, e0 O! d
No matter how seemingly insignificant% t' e$ b5 X' }
Changes the course of the lives
/ j. T+ A8 V8 f) e6 ` Of those we touch.?
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$ k# I/ R% P, X+ b% o And when the icy winds of death/ X" @* |. T `7 o' x
beckon our lasting attention
3 [, `6 p5 _1 k$ _) S We will gently leave this life $ E- g6 ?) f2 E2 H8 i
With the knowledge that ! d* q( H- u9 q% R
because of that one pebble
1 d7 L4 R9 w3 m7 \! A6 ? The world will never be the same.
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. B- F4 u; J4 K) `; ? And then we have heaven …* c3 ]1 L( [9 r2 R: v2 r2 E; Z& M+ {
+ k* m4 \1 W& \1 X4 X/ Y Ross Rosenberg% Y1 a) Q9 ? t4 v" p
8/18/03 |
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发表于 2010-3-12 06:36
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