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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.. y; {- }2 h1 h: P
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Heaven, @/ ^1 l$ \$ g
The pebble is worn smooth 4 p* u2 z) G4 |- |
Made small over time. ?- P9 ]3 C% U7 g
A product of a cataclysmic force of nature2 s/ \4 c( _2 s* D' G3 `$ }7 W
A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock9 _; K3 _! c) `
An accidental offspring of a boulder
: F0 A/ z" R, p" j/ s But just a very small stone. / n0 ^& N! B1 A' d
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The pebble's place in our world
8 x' K3 f! C% W' S; w6 I Is neither understood nor appreciated, T7 h* Y7 I! ?, R5 m2 K1 X# k
But when thrown into a glassy calm pond E8 N- z( k' K" K A: S
Its insignificance is transformed% C- v, `; J7 k% Z7 M" ^
Its meaning and purpose is unleashed.
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The instant the pebble kisses the pond
) a9 \) R$ C0 M' ] Its signature of concentric ripples % B( C( Z& p" ~1 }) C) Q8 B7 R w: Z
Spiral outwards
6 Q1 s- }& {( G# E; T+ `- t+ Z8 Q Moving far beyond itself.
/ }3 f$ e0 ^3 f4 L5 D' W Gently affecting everything in its wake; P# J- w; J. N4 i
Forever altering the smooth placid surface.5 j, Y; ]$ d1 C9 g9 u- B
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The pebble creates its worth and meaning
% U# ?9 ?2 `5 n- m+ } By unleashing its unimagined power? - E7 G* [1 `9 s- D S! M2 ?
Into a dueling force of action and reaction1 s' S: r$ V, U0 t1 \) Q- R3 p9 q
Creating karmic energy
. g3 W |$ i1 O Producing lasting and fluid impressions.
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' Y1 d2 Y! u! j7 K% G! ?/ q$ m: \5 u; |6 { Aren't we all pebbles?% [! l; d1 g. k
Feeling small and insignificant
2 Y7 R+ N) D1 ^$ f9 h! M: q6 c5 Q But ultimately recognizing 4 x& v9 k4 ^* G, L9 X% i. L5 k! H
That who we are meant to be6 l* v' f6 M! k4 k1 W( f$ B( e- V
Can never be measured in isolation
% z v* n0 p$ u# y- }- f2 m1 H6 C on a path into ourselves. l7 o' J6 |; ^, N
( K9 D/ C' m, B9 n+ C It is true then:% H$ ~& G9 [3 \- `
Our everlasting future / J) }1 k$ U6 v) |
Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles
- V9 Z: w5 B; E. H% ^ X Into the pond of life: c" q# {& b) J5 k" }! M |) [7 ]9 n
Creating ripples 9 v" ?- `- v- K9 m: L
that leave unique mark on our world
4 h: T' a% Z" f6 F* G5 C Not because of thoughts
7 Q3 B( s% N2 _+ D not because of well meaning plans
! L* Q8 T# N) z0 W- e: s% } But because of actions. / m6 ^' ]* j5 p# `( R
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Our life's prayers our answered
T) s6 q$ Z h" y; ?" _# b: V+ L2 P Because even the smallest pebble / o) D9 S7 {2 e' I. x) O) }
No matter how seemingly insignificant9 }# H+ @, i# f8 j+ n
Changes the course of the lives4 I* W0 ~2 S0 K% b
Of those we touch.? . D7 p/ r A. p, w y \! H
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And when the icy winds of death: S7 }1 E! Z0 `6 k. ^
beckon our lasting attention; V. z2 V5 x5 X$ j- u
We will gently leave this life & Y" J$ X3 G' i4 J
With the knowledge that , z% {6 X3 F/ \) R4 m
because of that one pebble & S9 I$ u) i7 O2 U$ d. V
The world will never be the same.
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2 c, b3 D" J8 h, o/ Z And then we have heaven …5 A2 @7 P1 s$ C2 X! M/ a8 g
/ w) @% |# P; w9 M8 r3 C( U Y& | Ross Rosenberg3 p9 i' G4 x2 D+ v8 ^) h
8/18/03 |
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发表于 2010-3-12 06:36
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