 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.
' w4 N7 e- {, m; I }
3 ~% q3 t) R |" _7 u% Q) V0 b 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.
' y) k+ `( w+ ~; P" r* ?3 V9 S & V( ^! a6 b! F) L+ ?
Heaven: P# J' |# v& e6 Z6 |& w
The pebble is worn smooth
8 v H' s7 l4 y( A8 _& x0 Z2 I3 C Made small over time
) v0 o/ a3 D$ {7 f% n7 ? A product of a cataclysmic force of nature0 S9 K7 S5 E: G- z& C7 U @
A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock. _; C) f- |& |
An accidental offspring of a boulder % H$ j" m5 t* R# l [8 i
But just a very small stone. # \& {2 u( c) w6 |1 X0 F
! h# v) z' N; w- A. _2 T
The pebble's place in our world
7 j( c& d, @7 d# y Is neither understood nor appreciated1 a4 k# ~/ |3 b
But when thrown into a glassy calm pond 5 |+ P) H b. ?
Its insignificance is transformed
e! ~7 I, S4 G- T Its meaning and purpose is unleashed., {3 e: b6 j& W
3 X( Y7 H3 F0 m The instant the pebble kisses the pond. z* k2 d& {' ?# T. U4 s6 m1 \
Its signature of concentric ripples 5 V e0 B7 J7 }7 R' P x% I4 X3 j3 Q
Spiral outwards
; i8 H4 o1 W, ?# I6 H6 n# O Moving far beyond itself.$ ~6 n6 ^! s# x# p6 g5 r
Gently affecting everything in its wake
- }: v: e+ w% X+ n" ] Forever altering the smooth placid surface.: E) K/ S5 r" v* |& N7 q y9 o
; O+ C3 V' w7 I, ]( k2 \
The pebble creates its worth and meaning 7 {$ |. O5 l+ g& l/ D
By unleashing its unimagined power? # i( |$ ?4 U; o# r/ D J2 `
Into a dueling force of action and reaction
8 N$ D; e+ \; d1 R: K8 x! m6 Y' N& Q Creating karmic energy
: v9 C$ q' Q- S" L2 ~0 F7 n" v2 x Producing lasting and fluid impressions./ c. m6 z# p) y
# p1 V, Y& V2 O/ f( V% ` Aren't we all pebbles? j1 _4 n! I0 i6 y4 m' [* t( |
Feeling small and insignificant
0 _5 d' p. C; B8 t! r But ultimately recognizing ( r3 G6 X4 K4 K
That who we are meant to be
$ ?: `) ]0 E7 Z Can never be measured in isolation
6 w+ |1 Y. f: v- K on a path into ourselves.
; W( q: T1 `/ R5 L! S + D2 m+ b" ~% t
It is true then:
! J @5 z+ x" o$ t Our everlasting future
4 \( ^9 ]4 s' n2 \2 ?) G& Z Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles
5 `% z+ R, Z8 ~/ q Into the pond of life
7 X. a) X: S9 `0 o' v U5 [ Creating ripples , f9 F2 E, R( R3 j/ M' s
that leave unique mark on our world
7 q% l% }9 o9 ?4 F9 J. B Not because of thoughts 2 t z8 N* I; W
not because of well meaning plans4 H$ e& t# i* B! H9 R
But because of actions.
/ E: C2 ^. D; C" C& ]5 r- O : F4 J) u5 V- a' e' Q# j
Our life's prayers our answered# m' d3 p- L8 k" X& j& P4 H
Because even the smallest pebble 7 N( w* l) u; ?- }2 D
No matter how seemingly insignificant* V0 W) }! U7 h" C9 t
Changes the course of the lives
3 j }( ?& Z3 C! {! z7 }! |; o Of those we touch.?
; i+ M5 [$ ]2 v3 a* P( b
" x0 w$ k) M+ r+ U, ? And when the icy winds of death/ P: Y9 Y$ p# ^7 P* q- Z
beckon our lasting attention. _% }' C; |+ |* O
We will gently leave this life
3 k9 E/ p: ], k3 L" _+ j With the knowledge that I8 _# @" h* H: @9 C1 ^6 X
because of that one pebble
7 b1 Z9 d* d: d The world will never be the same.
1 g$ l' L. b; D! o8 S; N
' J3 q! ]- p! c+ w$ i8 g: A7 Q, i And then we have heaven …
7 z/ }7 ?7 p4 D l0 Z4 t2 r6 `
" Q$ m( ]: R! p7 y Ross Rosenberg
9 U9 z4 y( z4 s2 K) U9 o; `5 U' P9 { 8/18/03 |
|