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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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0 g1 H* Y+ C# ]( N! q& g 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./ _5 L$ R% ^6 ^5 \' h+ ]( Q
8 G( }% H, R- M; e- G Heaven' f; F T9 z9 A' y7 T x4 x0 ]
The pebble is worn smooth ) r" v. v; P9 u' f- A
Made small over time$ i, @; Z, i) k1 R) H% M
A product of a cataclysmic force of nature
' S2 J# M8 ]% ~% \ A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock
+ i) a$ k# l f9 V3 D( b An accidental offspring of a boulder " Y( C& ~8 M9 g: b' E- p- t1 z
But just a very small stone.
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w# f0 F& c! c0 j' @( S" h The pebble's place in our world
7 j. ]4 C# Z' B r9 ~ Is neither understood nor appreciated; b& ]7 O& S: g5 M' s
But when thrown into a glassy calm pond `9 f8 L& ]; {9 r6 u- M1 U$ ]
Its insignificance is transformed
7 E |9 Q/ t+ p Its meaning and purpose is unleashed." v9 A& o' |/ s O8 Z3 ^" C
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The instant the pebble kisses the pond; p; w" X1 Y$ E- N+ n; |
Its signature of concentric ripples
/ _1 @! E% F' h& O/ g e6 g C Spiral outwards 6 p/ r6 [/ U& ]8 G- L% k
Moving far beyond itself.
: l6 R3 @2 S3 i Gently affecting everything in its wake4 n) ]: J! E( n; w/ d& B5 p
Forever altering the smooth placid surface.
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The pebble creates its worth and meaning
( J }) C: K- G- H1 F h$ U' M; J By unleashing its unimagined power?
( {/ j* I( r6 Z( C% D- s Into a dueling force of action and reaction+ t0 m7 P( G" W2 k- L
Creating karmic energy
9 H0 T6 ~2 b# n* H0 @! Z Producing lasting and fluid impressions.
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9 N# N! E @& W$ }# w3 N Aren't we all pebbles?1 v( H1 e# h: b
Feeling small and insignificant: p, P3 s. p* \0 e
But ultimately recognizing
7 m7 m$ _. j% N- C* D, Q That who we are meant to be
! T) K& l+ [" d' A& n Can never be measured in isolation" K/ |, `% J, G: p( m
on a path into ourselves.4 \# n! {' m" \/ P' E
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It is true then:* w6 G/ V' L' {- ]2 j
Our everlasting future 5 U. A/ ^1 c- Q/ V) H$ _0 @
Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles
1 Y s5 m0 y3 s( W D+ t Into the pond of life$ ?% ~$ Q7 T$ [7 u D4 V
Creating ripples . [) i( P c, M# m+ A8 j
that leave unique mark on our world ( q+ g4 X/ n/ \/ k1 w- @5 b
Not because of thoughts
7 c$ y" d: k6 v5 s' k# H not because of well meaning plans- K' U: g' T7 ~: c$ U3 I- i+ |! i
But because of actions.
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# O) Y) M0 [, n' ?, t* v Our life's prayers our answered
$ x! O- l4 `' k3 i0 A Because even the smallest pebble
! V8 E3 |* y7 { y7 L No matter how seemingly insignificant8 Y/ c5 A( }2 K/ O L: c* n( ]+ A
Changes the course of the lives
: L# A8 B3 Z; s. `/ Y1 C8 l, e! A Of those we touch.? : b8 U! M6 @% @# w: v2 w
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And when the icy winds of death
" D" i( I$ R, G1 t+ {% Q0 @. ` beckon our lasting attention
/ R# e8 Z. _+ @6 M4 L* G We will gently leave this life ) w: K* m4 f: ]1 x* h
With the knowledge that / C3 Q8 G- [4 S6 N3 k z- P( I
because of that one pebble 4 Z) Z7 E @, K: z8 D
The world will never be the same.
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And then we have heaven …
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$ P5 |8 @" _$ g/ V& [/ I% M Ross Rosenberg; x! W z/ W6 v" K) `5 t0 T
8/18/03 |
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