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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. 5 K3 b2 l4 B8 y# f
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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.. X% p3 V$ Y9 m1 p$ l
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Heaven" L4 {- C! Y0 [/ Z3 J+ u- a
The pebble is worn smooth " B2 h2 E6 G) \+ W
Made small over time: F0 g2 I4 M3 o# v
A product of a cataclysmic force of nature" |9 l7 X+ l! g2 T$ x
A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock0 V# M2 F4 T2 I- n
An accidental offspring of a boulder
3 v2 p( D" j; K' ?8 d5 { But just a very small stone. & b8 L( d/ P/ T# ~: m
& ]( W. N( H0 w+ I2 t1 S1 E The pebble's place in our world
3 o0 {& L5 H# r- J Is neither understood nor appreciated" z4 a- V. ^6 j( K1 l
But when thrown into a glassy calm pond
; C% {/ `' a O Its insignificance is transformed( `* Y, X @7 f0 T% S( ]( h
Its meaning and purpose is unleashed.
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7 X: _% Y- w3 ~% ~& y The instant the pebble kisses the pond
3 [; h1 y$ }2 }$ _, Q: V) E$ g Its signature of concentric ripples
" n: j3 o1 Z% R Spiral outwards
$ k. H9 o8 H+ Z6 R6 n Moving far beyond itself.
t G; o M( Y% t( x; [4 G Gently affecting everything in its wake4 A: v( f; j" h2 t
Forever altering the smooth placid surface.* B, z$ d0 ?: M* G1 D4 H7 e
% q8 S; v7 H; y2 Z The pebble creates its worth and meaning . l' d1 _/ }1 S6 U# a. a
By unleashing its unimagined power?
% R# | z: }2 ^6 c5 M0 e b: T Into a dueling force of action and reaction) x: ^$ k- |/ X6 T
Creating karmic energy6 J( w+ S6 d% @% |& r8 A Y
Producing lasting and fluid impressions.
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; _: b/ U& j V1 u' g' K; i Aren't we all pebbles?% _) Z. Q: S, `3 ^. }$ } M' a
Feeling small and insignificant
. N7 X5 A' ~4 K" C/ ?2 b) A# l But ultimately recognizing
- R4 R% B8 ]( D6 ^$ _- Y8 z That who we are meant to be/ q, q. O1 P% u% ^( e
Can never be measured in isolation; W% w+ r# R$ ?. \' a; g* L' E+ `
on a path into ourselves.
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8 N. H3 t2 G$ c* B) r- i& T It is true then:
: Z( b2 G. ^1 @5 i Our everlasting future
9 n2 h0 n5 y! N ~% r Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles+ |7 x$ R7 i- `; J! K
Into the pond of life
7 M) C% e( \" ^/ t3 | Creating ripples 5 ^6 i( D8 [, Z3 ]
that leave unique mark on our world
( }1 o" ^' _# Y: b; o8 } Not because of thoughts
/ l+ W; D" M. e! W8 _; @# c( u0 z not because of well meaning plans, J4 a. O) P# g
But because of actions.
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. L) v) _! ?$ G1 T$ U Our life's prayers our answered$ o% D$ w0 V/ V6 q' \0 a+ n
Because even the smallest pebble
, X: p1 R8 J3 R" T No matter how seemingly insignificant8 w% u; ?$ x* Q4 A+ k3 D0 m7 a* Z6 {
Changes the course of the lives
% f% B8 c. N# { Of those we touch.?
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And when the icy winds of death' A. ~. K c' K2 K% r
beckon our lasting attention, ]% C" o2 W& V. K/ k& D
We will gently leave this life
2 @( E. \% T! Q" ^ With the knowledge that
- r2 C! M$ P) h* m because of that one pebble
8 h4 l% L* _! b4 ]; R7 ?2 q The world will never be the same., y0 R, m6 s% p" }9 K- @; i) e
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And then we have heaven …2 z0 M' O3 W) U5 H. c# B
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Ross Rosenberg% b: L* M( @* J% q: s1 }4 Z
8/18/03 |
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发表于 2010-3-12 06:36
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