 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. ' _/ U$ q6 y0 s- y4 D
9 o8 T; @! P# R1 F* p( V+ V$ X 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.
. A4 U' U+ M2 v. x+ F / I! J' K8 x1 \+ o% C U; z
Heaven
, U! S o: y! C The pebble is worn smooth 4 H* n4 X- z3 B8 X4 K/ I' L7 A9 k
Made small over time
$ N* w5 z( _ Q9 k* y* y A product of a cataclysmic force of nature J8 j! m" B7 z8 E$ k6 _- S5 G6 P2 a( l
A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock; B) Y2 F2 F% B
An accidental offspring of a boulder 0 @) m$ w: a$ e$ m2 @9 L1 P6 s
But just a very small stone.
: f/ p* w1 s/ T4 |
& p3 y/ b. R: r2 X4 E" B The pebble's place in our world 3 z( @; i ]# S) K, \: \5 z6 F
Is neither understood nor appreciated
7 f2 D/ x( m. h2 G& N& }1 ^2 P But when thrown into a glassy calm pond
4 z% p$ X0 C% a7 ]" c Its insignificance is transformed
; |; F8 B, ^; }) M j8 i1 n Its meaning and purpose is unleashed.
# Z# _1 J7 Z9 r3 I! `7 ~
' z1 A1 \. ^9 x8 L8 y9 V. l) A* F4 F( } n The instant the pebble kisses the pond
2 U F; G) r% L& j" Z( ? Its signature of concentric ripples
' E5 J4 h* u* c( A Spiral outwards ; ` R; s t3 a
Moving far beyond itself.4 {4 E5 R/ ]' W: O7 M z
Gently affecting everything in its wake/ X9 z4 n! U4 j$ ~ x0 V. j
Forever altering the smooth placid surface.
* j6 M, e) ?! s4 X
. R4 r- D% D* N- O/ @8 x: P6 ]& |4 \ The pebble creates its worth and meaning
/ R! R( \$ [0 ^/ l9 n By unleashing its unimagined power? , u' L( X8 ]0 G
Into a dueling force of action and reaction+ {* D8 T7 b7 [/ X
Creating karmic energy
1 K! n5 E" P: L" b Producing lasting and fluid impressions.: V# R+ O8 ]0 O7 p
! H( U7 z# b/ f4 S. y Aren't we all pebbles?
- ?' g% s3 E W0 o& v+ f Feeling small and insignificant6 o3 K( Z+ ]3 s2 @7 ?) h* S
But ultimately recognizing 6 Z6 l. T% Y- T! B1 }2 ~
That who we are meant to be* ?+ ?5 c: P2 H: s
Can never be measured in isolation
1 ?" `- ?0 B, c# |$ v6 c1 } on a path into ourselves.1 [* @* D6 _ D/ \/ C
6 c# x% k5 ^4 u* n- ? It is true then:
7 y! Z o5 v. y4 }* c9 r9 l" v Our everlasting future
( P( E* l8 Z" m1 D' z( f' Y+ U Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles! p$ I9 m$ `! n
Into the pond of life
0 g- g9 g* l" Q6 ?2 N5 q5 F Creating ripples
6 ^1 h3 |+ g2 k that leave unique mark on our world 1 G$ S( H; Q# {+ R* ?7 p4 O% g
Not because of thoughts
5 n5 j0 C( j8 F not because of well meaning plans
$ h5 c- z d$ Z. p8 b8 z( y But because of actions. : L$ ^! q: ^& [( |: M
2 B2 _8 X' B( B$ m, d0 s n Our life's prayers our answered
- M( W3 Y: Q" S+ P( `- ^& \5 S Because even the smallest pebble $ `1 F8 {# E) Y; _+ ]! d
No matter how seemingly insignificant
4 A& n5 ` f y6 T3 P Changes the course of the lives
. |1 Q. m6 b+ R, k4 r Of those we touch.? 6 K0 i2 K3 v5 {# q
2 p1 I( Z( a1 e! `4 ^( L# x
And when the icy winds of death' o' t) I! ~8 z: d. M7 }
beckon our lasting attention4 f7 p3 v6 [; y2 ^3 o* v/ w
We will gently leave this life
. t7 Z( ]: R! D% q) ] With the knowledge that
9 L0 u% G- Y. N* h because of that one pebble " m/ \' F# p3 X3 q. O3 d
The world will never be the same.
( `" h0 [* g' A! W' B* K 6 T% q, e; H% h8 Q' r1 M- J
And then we have heaven …! G! \7 x/ i; o# Q$ _
: [# z* ]0 Y2 k& U7 |
Ross Rosenberg$ v5 O3 p+ f g: V
8/18/03 |
|