 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. % b+ W4 H/ w! ?- z2 ]0 N5 F0 J B
4 R+ x8 @$ m$ W7 g. S/ d% F
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.6 [0 Z5 E# A7 B) ]5 F
/ G$ U$ I/ E4 e Heaven( _4 G+ n' s5 A, e$ W. B
The pebble is worn smooth
3 h( x0 }1 C; v- P) H/ T8 l Made small over time
5 G) m0 f3 Z! I8 f A product of a cataclysmic force of nature/ e- b5 n) N a$ G
A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock2 W7 k( k7 Y: [6 u
An accidental offspring of a boulder 4 e% y: l; H, ~: K9 m
But just a very small stone.
0 l$ X) V8 J. |1 X7 J# Z
2 k0 w4 ?+ R% d* c( E$ ?4 l The pebble's place in our world
( n. L$ d6 q# G5 M Is neither understood nor appreciated
3 E' V7 A4 C- q, x+ `; `- m But when thrown into a glassy calm pond
2 n" x6 b7 l+ S/ F% E" V( i0 W, f Its insignificance is transformed
4 u L3 E, g8 R1 i* q M- | Its meaning and purpose is unleashed.
@5 a) ?; n9 B4 F) A' W7 t + j8 P0 M8 c. k. x1 h9 Y6 r
The instant the pebble kisses the pond
1 q8 `( q5 E) w. a0 o Its signature of concentric ripples / y9 v i' e" g. _0 g& v
Spiral outwards & ^' m2 i* c( _/ P' M
Moving far beyond itself.
" Q E2 n4 Q5 ` Gently affecting everything in its wake* J' X4 g8 i, j9 g% U& b: n
Forever altering the smooth placid surface.
, [, H9 K" }% P: P
1 k' Q0 z2 K3 n# h1 C# L The pebble creates its worth and meaning 5 L, }$ c Z9 ?5 u$ `2 R
By unleashing its unimagined power? - C% c$ ~% O) f7 n8 N- y% l! _% t% V
Into a dueling force of action and reaction. D8 d# E" J, E6 Z4 y
Creating karmic energy
?) Q$ a' {3 k0 s/ P; | Producing lasting and fluid impressions.
. ^* l- J7 J) l9 ?1 `% M m0 b
' {, ^7 C; p4 \) ?( V' Z Aren't we all pebbles?
2 v2 T, M7 T# i: t( w Feeling small and insignificant& [/ r" v% A2 a" I) C* M
But ultimately recognizing : Y9 K. F. _( s% s
That who we are meant to be0 G. p+ i" m( T# F3 a
Can never be measured in isolation
. |6 @. T0 r) k9 g, o+ h3 e on a path into ourselves.
5 |( Y- s5 x1 ?( E# m, M, @ , J( W. ^' W* Y" X0 u# W" j1 @
It is true then:# C* s" q9 ~7 U Y! \
Our everlasting future
% E9 a( O5 Q- \3 I/ B Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles
1 W' b+ X( z9 A$ U U; V Into the pond of life* K, l$ z2 a5 u& j$ d
Creating ripples - Y8 I2 } W, n+ {$ i
that leave unique mark on our world 1 d6 O2 Z; V o2 |6 w% t6 c6 q' t* G2 g2 p
Not because of thoughts & \- P, D/ n$ U# ^/ D$ }! c
not because of well meaning plans& g4 v3 I# R0 o7 `* ~. j
But because of actions. 6 C0 L8 r2 o: l- W8 o& R* T) `4 F
! b* }6 k: {9 N5 M$ j1 N Our life's prayers our answered
# D c4 Q3 K. \! z Because even the smallest pebble
M* \9 K3 F7 l4 K. G No matter how seemingly insignificant- h6 `, h# K3 v9 U1 M9 v" i/ S5 |0 _/ r* Q
Changes the course of the lives4 u, H2 s4 Q: |! X; a4 x2 N
Of those we touch.?
( q5 e* A4 h- p; O# N
$ [; S2 w5 F& ^1 K/ c And when the icy winds of death
( `. X$ H1 G1 I! l1 Z9 ^1 r& H beckon our lasting attention( X$ V1 |" h: z6 t
We will gently leave this life
5 ]* l; e7 A+ ~9 L a5 ^ With the knowledge that # w v! _. y1 W+ C( K3 I1 o O
because of that one pebble
* Q( L+ d3 d% Z% I4 h# g' x. b$ j The world will never be the same.
3 k! Q' ~- x+ j , P8 p! z' n, X0 z7 |. q( y6 M
And then we have heaven …8 _1 Q9 I' Y# X7 x5 ]
/ C9 {( y; M+ c& Q9 P! |( O
Ross Rosenberg0 x/ U3 z) T3 e' }$ e1 D
8/18/03 |
|