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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.
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Heaven* k0 U3 z- _: O' I3 K( n I2 m
The pebble is worn smooth 6 V# F/ K* t/ P n
Made small over time6 ]* S. m# ]- k4 `4 R/ I' m
A product of a cataclysmic force of nature z1 w: e. Z; b+ [4 ^
A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock6 Z( `3 N$ j% }: P
An accidental offspring of a boulder
% l4 u' ^; H' ]* L, G) H4 o But just a very small stone.
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6 C" U# K& }( a( C6 u5 @ The pebble's place in our world , y, ?" t: p* `! o6 m. u y
Is neither understood nor appreciated
0 X8 I- ]# z& l. Q, p, E# D; \2 d But when thrown into a glassy calm pond 7 j/ k5 k3 k: U* J
Its insignificance is transformed! W2 C1 e( |( V4 {9 e3 v
Its meaning and purpose is unleashed./ R1 m7 Q7 i. J" {! n) C# |. I
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The instant the pebble kisses the pond
+ p5 G' C! q- e Its signature of concentric ripples # q1 _7 n- _' f" y j3 }
Spiral outwards
( D* a; b, R! N6 G2 k Moving far beyond itself.
* x! X4 W# [ O8 |/ X" R Gently affecting everything in its wake
: e1 P) q+ G2 G' K Z# o Forever altering the smooth placid surface.
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The pebble creates its worth and meaning ( e* L$ k" w8 @; A( c# `5 E, N
By unleashing its unimagined power? % _" Y% o6 ]( Z5 y: f
Into a dueling force of action and reaction' R9 A/ _- v! F9 P$ C# H
Creating karmic energy
- s; F, n: m' o Producing lasting and fluid impressions.
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& R! F, i `- t1 ?9 z1 Q% r" c Aren't we all pebbles?2 T/ [/ T1 v" d, U9 h ]
Feeling small and insignificant
7 N" U3 Y. D$ Y( C% w1 j But ultimately recognizing
3 [) x% }. W$ Z/ t That who we are meant to be* R0 X( F. s6 M
Can never be measured in isolation
7 M, `5 s0 p2 Q, ^6 v; \6 X on a path into ourselves.$ I" v9 ?( H! Q7 E! x
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It is true then:
0 o3 F6 k+ E `% k! K; [8 t Our everlasting future % P$ p, o/ E9 y- _: ^+ d/ O. j7 D2 o
Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles
# l8 J4 S6 {' N/ U Into the pond of life F' N+ x* b" J& ?! f. T6 X: H
Creating ripples
3 J V% H8 `8 \* W' P that leave unique mark on our world . i# V3 S( b: l) _/ r: X L7 B
Not because of thoughts
+ M" ?" a5 t2 m* X; M ^ not because of well meaning plans3 {! _! O. P0 R- [, Y4 \
But because of actions.
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/ `; f4 x% e# ^+ w) T/ U Our life's prayers our answered
/ s8 r# z4 Z$ K7 b/ B1 f Because even the smallest pebble
7 _, P0 E% C. X5 k. a No matter how seemingly insignificant
# T/ S) u% ]2 x Changes the course of the lives
8 P% Y( ~+ U# c* I0 R5 W2 v' x5 `1 K Of those we touch.? / g9 u. L5 t4 d. U" C+ s5 I
* Q" E$ R R, I! j' ^ And when the icy winds of death
( {( m5 S8 T$ ?/ ^' G) J+ T beckon our lasting attention
5 G3 l$ Y5 A# B We will gently leave this life
- w8 X ]# T1 C0 o With the knowledge that
; _, c3 Z: x. X2 P7 o0 [ because of that one pebble
3 h' o1 f! R' m The world will never be the same.& z# y R% y2 e) ^5 e
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And then we have heaven …' N, d; v7 Y. D8 I
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Ross Rosenberg( t( U6 n7 h4 I8 ]% x5 [
8/18/03 |
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发表于 2010-3-12 06:36
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