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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. % C) z g- j6 S$ i0 z# V
, n2 U3 E% q o' y 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.% u0 D# F1 r( Q
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Heaven
) m9 e% w2 g! D; ]) q9 Y The pebble is worn smooth ; T/ S1 U9 u; k' u0 R
Made small over time& t) [, D6 i( j) E" A8 }, e8 g
A product of a cataclysmic force of nature
7 r( ?: N) o9 J4 y A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock; n7 \6 D, L: k! b( O+ ~
An accidental offspring of a boulder 5 L% P; b8 a. w
But just a very small stone. 9 o+ c7 \) D8 i6 S' B8 L5 q
) B: Q' S. [( \* Z- ` The pebble's place in our world
4 v( [5 A R- J Is neither understood nor appreciated
' f& F5 ?5 n9 ^ J# L6 x But when thrown into a glassy calm pond # o6 q( o7 i, G2 {) x: J
Its insignificance is transformed
: b# Z2 ~; y% D- r+ M$ N, X4 o Its meaning and purpose is unleashed.
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The instant the pebble kisses the pond
- q. C6 ?1 e( J0 L% g) K4 f' D2 h$ R, p Its signature of concentric ripples
8 Y* f2 z# i8 P Spiral outwards ( [1 ~* v" k3 d- b; h/ t, O d
Moving far beyond itself.
" V' J/ X6 `% o: _0 Y Gently affecting everything in its wake
8 y! V r7 g+ `+ T Forever altering the smooth placid surface.
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The pebble creates its worth and meaning 6 r! Z' R' G& v) `3 _
By unleashing its unimagined power? " U" U* z1 c$ \1 f, Y. s$ B
Into a dueling force of action and reaction
9 G# a* H1 J- G/ l; |; @/ [ Creating karmic energy7 t' w5 O: Y8 V9 C& f+ Y' T) P0 Z; K7 M
Producing lasting and fluid impressions.
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; E: X6 G. r7 ^0 f P Aren't we all pebbles?
8 U5 X5 m: F0 n1 y1 E) ? Feeling small and insignificant9 d: a! a) O+ G. F. a7 A* s
But ultimately recognizing . @" e% b, t M* |$ e/ i
That who we are meant to be6 }, h! b& H9 T8 W5 w4 e- t8 U
Can never be measured in isolation
! ^+ c5 h8 W0 \" _ on a path into ourselves.+ x1 \9 |1 c# p+ X
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It is true then:
4 Y/ ?3 ^, t3 m Our everlasting future
* W0 d" K; ~, C$ D Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles
; F! t( ~- \: ^/ x' k; F Into the pond of life- Q" ]& L( N6 h8 I' f
Creating ripples 0 @* `% `( O$ y( p! W( p* x1 c/ g
that leave unique mark on our world - j M! m7 {6 r: C2 f+ d
Not because of thoughts
0 z* W) k+ F m, c' h% E2 h not because of well meaning plans
( ?% N4 i$ [; k, u4 ? But because of actions. : e5 b( E Y& P) Y, L8 i
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Our life's prayers our answered
- r! w7 C) H( @2 _* x/ L' o8 \ Because even the smallest pebble
6 I/ J( O: d6 z1 v No matter how seemingly insignificant
' m4 w7 V7 h0 ?0 T3 i Changes the course of the lives
+ j# _# ]* }! L( V! S% B Of those we touch.?
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! _! V: e3 o6 v( ? And when the icy winds of death3 @$ \. k) V7 U w! p: P
beckon our lasting attention
; q2 I# r9 Q0 @9 D1 @ }+ ]1 i We will gently leave this life 2 R K$ L7 ~& g ?! ^! T. ]
With the knowledge that
5 w, m# e, }% k; E; E because of that one pebble
: D: `) Q6 ~6 B. i p The world will never be the same.6 r! }( G: \! i" v; h1 n
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And then we have heaven …+ L) x8 @& X* Y; v9 I. o% |
) o5 k! I/ g: X! @9 h0 l Ross Rosenberg4 u9 q3 p! U3 ]
8/18/03 |
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