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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., R% r3 J- i# r$ x1 z( M& }/ ]
7 K- N: i# U- O
Heaven: t! ^! b: W* t5 V. X6 O3 C9 S
The pebble is worn smooth
. t; _; y9 [. U" [2 w! { Made small over time
8 a8 x5 {( S. {) _) O% S A product of a cataclysmic force of nature% m/ B! b n* A5 k
A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock7 t5 z, u* L7 p
An accidental offspring of a boulder : `/ v! }4 R2 z8 F, O
But just a very small stone.
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6 ]! P6 t4 w" k4 j& p( I6 e The pebble's place in our world 4 X0 E, B- l9 K% f" d) `2 o
Is neither understood nor appreciated' j9 [& r; K, Y$ Q4 W
But when thrown into a glassy calm pond
& | K- ]5 X: m5 A% ]8 ]; ? Its insignificance is transformed' s- O' B7 O# b, b% t% R# n+ X$ M
Its meaning and purpose is unleashed.
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- Z+ Y* L$ r& @ The instant the pebble kisses the pond
3 X7 q* t4 V0 x Its signature of concentric ripples 3 k, w; L+ p: i1 ^- c) [4 g& K
Spiral outwards
8 q: |, j+ T) [/ C# T2 _3 i2 f Moving far beyond itself., {, ?, \/ V% S: Y) m8 e* }: w) e
Gently affecting everything in its wake
O. x6 c9 p# a! Q+ v- w Forever altering the smooth placid surface.
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The pebble creates its worth and meaning
: V# ~2 v4 F4 O By unleashing its unimagined power? ! J, n( R2 F# [! V; i
Into a dueling force of action and reaction
# n$ T4 L) s- M Creating karmic energy( Y- e7 d! e% }: W
Producing lasting and fluid impressions.! y* |* t) P/ g$ f2 y8 W
+ [0 c4 @! Y' B5 Q- ? N Aren't we all pebbles?
) {) ^4 R% z% M) q Feeling small and insignificant
8 f- Z- P% g2 M/ ^; [6 x4 ` But ultimately recognizing 2 \0 s1 G# w d, g/ u# b. p5 d/ I
That who we are meant to be
: y7 M3 X. D6 ?0 h5 R( ~5 q Can never be measured in isolation Z$ u" O) _ s
on a path into ourselves.
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It is true then:
" ?4 D# X, l3 l* t3 v Our everlasting future 4 d. |2 o* B. \* Y5 B5 E
Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles
8 M& X) P8 f2 q" z# f1 N8 z$ a Into the pond of life# Y3 [' E- z8 n4 `: S3 c# n
Creating ripples
; t$ e* [! ]2 ] that leave unique mark on our world + H% B1 I/ Q# \- U3 b2 P
Not because of thoughts ! N3 [2 M8 z8 Q0 f
not because of well meaning plans3 Y6 Z& G' F. F4 z, d$ F& B* _- u2 I
But because of actions.
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Our life's prayers our answered
. h* ^, `8 t) _* W0 T: L Because even the smallest pebble 4 _- S# r$ M2 n/ A' M
No matter how seemingly insignificant; A: H* Q0 F3 h- z
Changes the course of the lives' p5 E* N8 z# q5 l" p8 R: k
Of those we touch.?
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And when the icy winds of death) j6 Y8 Q) a1 Q% O3 d! Q P
beckon our lasting attention
r2 q. ?. x' e) R We will gently leave this life - p$ H8 a/ Z# m7 X5 y, k% K
With the knowledge that 8 C, l3 V1 { g0 ~( X% L5 `- }
because of that one pebble ! Z" n# C, t- h. y/ v1 n
The world will never be the same.% H" E; y% x: r; y" s
) j: ?" O8 x9 c3 x- O- ?/ } And then we have heaven …! H6 F8 X; D) ]+ t6 q
! X% ^- u6 s& L* A" `3 F5 c# b Ross Rosenberg$ ~- r3 |# M' {# \$ B
8/18/03 |
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发表于 2010-3-12 06:36
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