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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. ) z( r8 U) V7 @7 @8 o4 {
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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
" a9 ^5 ~+ q, o5 Z% q The pebble is worn smooth 5 V+ K1 ?- G M" q r2 r4 Y+ L
Made small over time7 k, |8 P1 d8 I$ J
A product of a cataclysmic force of nature5 G2 ~6 ^2 a7 N3 `' ~: ]. |3 B
A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock, E- u, O- X: j
An accidental offspring of a boulder
7 E, a6 l0 ?( { But just a very small stone.
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* L: n$ {; u9 N, m' F The pebble's place in our world
5 R8 g1 [/ I# d9 i Is neither understood nor appreciated
! X! a6 i) T! c! Q7 O' K- G) u But when thrown into a glassy calm pond
$ Y% T2 `4 V* A- f1 @) y3 b Its insignificance is transformed* `" b/ T- S1 J/ u2 d7 [3 X
Its meaning and purpose is unleashed.1 M) H4 z" z2 N4 Y
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The instant the pebble kisses the pond
$ ?1 P1 c" f/ l4 _# j6 y+ w Its signature of concentric ripples
$ {$ f. Y: Y' Y4 m4 h+ b Spiral outwards
# a$ r; s4 O1 ^$ v1 r, o Moving far beyond itself.
3 a) Z J( K7 r/ b! x6 i8 z Gently affecting everything in its wake
7 F6 q4 {% f! H- c! s j) W Forever altering the smooth placid surface.. f3 h: g2 w. b, ]6 p& U% d
0 _2 t9 ` e' _1 g$ o( Z The pebble creates its worth and meaning
0 m6 m& X8 O1 O4 j By unleashing its unimagined power? v2 ]5 k, Y9 F& C7 D2 l: ~
Into a dueling force of action and reaction; p& v7 ?$ H* j# U) p3 a* }
Creating karmic energy0 \, E6 a- W2 w2 r
Producing lasting and fluid impressions.: R4 M) S! Y, K7 z, \
. E3 z l1 C g U% c Aren't we all pebbles?
; R( W5 T& N! T# P& x Feeling small and insignificant
S" r/ K- \/ p* k But ultimately recognizing
- l1 q0 d& O- q/ C That who we are meant to be
V9 l! D' |2 w$ W! L9 Y Can never be measured in isolation. @6 y. Q0 ~. \' [* Z
on a path into ourselves.
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- H" M( c% k: |) t' K It is true then:2 g6 B; n; O- F8 x( w) g) E
Our everlasting future ! R* e1 J: i1 V: X" w( }
Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles$ {% O7 t0 z& e. Y* H+ s
Into the pond of life
1 p' g0 f: G* |! U9 ] Creating ripples
5 l" }+ i) W) a" ^ that leave unique mark on our world 7 c1 Z, H* l# N
Not because of thoughts
, g: j4 ^- E% H3 x# i not because of well meaning plans
' d6 Z& q2 K h# H But because of actions. - o8 Q' }2 j2 |5 ]0 I
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Our life's prayers our answered
( g: x4 S, C, B3 b8 C) N5 ] Because even the smallest pebble 4 D2 }3 A7 u0 q1 j9 m
No matter how seemingly insignificant; H- t0 ? H" a1 `
Changes the course of the lives6 w/ B. h3 \9 A* V
Of those we touch.? 3 V! E! z* y+ l* V _; A- f, |
( ~9 a; \8 H% e8 ] And when the icy winds of death
; j% L& j3 h( u" c0 ?& v2 Z beckon our lasting attention
9 q( G$ P) O/ D, v9 O$ _ We will gently leave this life # E) D! r' `, U, \/ P
With the knowledge that * b4 K. K1 M: A4 \
because of that one pebble
# X5 {# R& W9 y The world will never be the same.
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6 c, N6 n J1 |- j3 G) l' a3 w/ R And then we have heaven …+ V) Q& Y# N/ d7 M8 E e* I1 H
v" _( {7 e1 ?/ T
Ross Rosenberg
4 O. k0 R& p) Q& a8 B1 z1 M1 D: l 8/18/03 |
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发表于 2010-3-12 06:36
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