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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.) S; J4 J7 ^ }
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Heaven. s }7 P3 V* h) \& y2 a! F: g0 _
The pebble is worn smooth
1 t' d) T% Y3 { Made small over time
. v# n* M) Y& r7 q A product of a cataclysmic force of nature
# N. z- Y4 q' ] ]9 n3 j) d. r: ]/ ^ A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock
* m% V5 U9 ^/ ?/ V# O& d An accidental offspring of a boulder
' _# c) d2 R9 j2 @; q. Z* B1 G But just a very small stone.
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7 D3 j$ u) a" {. M The pebble's place in our world
+ n5 O( c4 g9 j6 N* _" x8 v Is neither understood nor appreciated
. J& J9 S) z6 B' A( r$ \( { But when thrown into a glassy calm pond
% \" ^% l8 @ s, \$ V6 h0 w Its insignificance is transformed# ?( }! [1 ~2 g: u, [
Its meaning and purpose is unleashed.6 ~- _0 |; c0 h' |7 G9 c& A
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The instant the pebble kisses the pond; X3 R2 q& t% z3 x1 _5 L( ^
Its signature of concentric ripples
( t& z+ `0 x! T7 U5 O Spiral outwards . S* t, t6 ^( f1 k, u" C' o0 j
Moving far beyond itself., K8 E8 f+ y2 B
Gently affecting everything in its wake
3 Q0 W1 A- h* J$ H. p4 d Forever altering the smooth placid surface./ D2 J/ U H# Q4 h- t! f
& A' h; X A, B( l: {/ Z6 t& N The pebble creates its worth and meaning 3 K, B& B- q/ K4 Q1 L i8 ?" v; s
By unleashing its unimagined power? ; X5 c! r- u/ m7 O
Into a dueling force of action and reaction
' g4 F ?/ F% I; [% T Creating karmic energy4 M G! H4 z( a3 q* E* e0 M6 I
Producing lasting and fluid impressions.3 Q& ]) p: a7 V( s6 F7 c
; {( N$ A7 ^7 g# C8 \ Aren't we all pebbles?
4 q" a3 g, h% K Feeling small and insignificant( C1 R; }1 c o5 D
But ultimately recognizing
9 e9 H8 j( H# M1 ? That who we are meant to be
% w1 Q; s* K( B8 R Can never be measured in isolation; [" N+ x5 F5 H3 i2 D7 `9 a
on a path into ourselves./ [8 z' y1 Q! u/ D6 @0 ?
( ?4 h! t; g: D% ~, N' N It is true then:
$ f Z" v" V/ |' z- d, Y Our everlasting future P- G3 s( y' }$ E3 j7 }
Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles
% Y! H! W8 c$ ^ Into the pond of life9 b* O. ^) I# X+ `" n2 l3 E5 H) m8 r
Creating ripples 2 O- Q) X8 t% \" z. |# m' V% l* F
that leave unique mark on our world 4 a) w, A7 m2 _
Not because of thoughts
, @: b; k" f4 i. w( y% \4 D2 W; ~ not because of well meaning plans4 W, R0 Z/ q3 j. E0 u
But because of actions.
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Our life's prayers our answered7 x( ~- M$ U+ V& Y. h0 N0 R
Because even the smallest pebble
' r/ `5 x! m3 Q1 c. J No matter how seemingly insignificant# Q, P0 j- h# }+ Y/ t7 l
Changes the course of the lives
Q9 z+ B9 y4 q' ]" k1 b Of those we touch.? 1 P4 J v3 k7 ]) m7 f! |/ ^, Y: m
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And when the icy winds of death
$ y) C1 w% y" {% f beckon our lasting attention
; e( W% J a8 u8 u We will gently leave this life ! s* }4 t' Z# Y5 e4 g: D. M
With the knowledge that
/ |& D, U0 S8 [" |) [! @- g because of that one pebble
, K' Y' J6 W W; Z' E( w1 o The world will never be the same.' N' x: k! f8 e( L t6 z5 D2 [8 a
" s* u2 j1 t8 K4 R- w* q4 L And then we have heaven …) S3 b! b0 w- w! W/ p$ `
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Ross Rosenberg: w6 i0 E1 n1 g6 i- W; U2 N
8/18/03 |
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发表于 2010-3-12 06:36
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