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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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1 k" k" E* E' g- w3 T) v" 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.
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Heaven
% h0 v7 B* D- T, Z1 t The pebble is worn smooth , J. |1 z! Z' e1 }8 n* d+ k
Made small over time' F2 c/ F1 O) s" i, _( \9 e2 S# j
A product of a cataclysmic force of nature' M4 u# z3 ^+ x6 G
A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock: [& M4 Z+ V# W5 ]
An accidental offspring of a boulder $ N8 Y3 v- D, s+ T" h9 [
But just a very small stone.
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6 X& K0 [4 R8 t0 A. w) C The pebble's place in our world / I5 P3 [" ^! l0 c, @
Is neither understood nor appreciated
. ~- r( s! I. d But when thrown into a glassy calm pond
9 ?5 ]. }. ~ Q; L6 R. J3 B Its insignificance is transformed; _: p) b0 i/ b) e+ K
Its meaning and purpose is unleashed.% B. E: X2 G' }+ z; w
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The instant the pebble kisses the pond
3 u8 x& f% K8 X3 U: s Its signature of concentric ripples ' v% \3 O+ M* L; t2 a
Spiral outwards 7 I( }) u( s5 u6 m" B6 Z
Moving far beyond itself.
. o( u$ g, d) |0 V0 \ Gently affecting everything in its wake# H, k1 e' N2 {5 z3 N( b) |& Z
Forever altering the smooth placid surface.
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The pebble creates its worth and meaning 3 ~4 K' d) Y0 P
By unleashing its unimagined power?
K; O( k7 B/ z0 Q% d, s Into a dueling force of action and reaction
& k" [' _4 T" q1 x- W Creating karmic energy$ U- ?8 B$ [- O; E5 o6 k( r6 M
Producing lasting and fluid impressions./ p9 h& m$ k" o& p. u- \
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Aren't we all pebbles?
7 _, x, ^- A2 W$ N4 T& h1 G Feeling small and insignificant
5 ?% w# b. M3 n$ }; o But ultimately recognizing 3 o% e* [4 C$ a2 p
That who we are meant to be
+ q' s8 q7 | P, Z7 e/ M Can never be measured in isolation2 P+ z1 Y+ _0 ^6 S& H0 w
on a path into ourselves.* X1 R; T G4 W) a- A
8 o7 K: ?' s3 [- o It is true then:! x1 @" X! s) C7 ~8 W! \
Our everlasting future 0 ~" v- ]9 p \: e
Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles5 r, e. n. X' }/ ~1 c
Into the pond of life$ ^- _# H+ o1 h& e, t1 }$ c
Creating ripples : ]& M' @0 [( F: z* Y' S2 \
that leave unique mark on our world
# d8 p) y/ V/ Y! g Q# W6 W: \" P Not because of thoughts " T& |0 @) u+ J
not because of well meaning plans
( o; C& L+ S* e6 e; R9 W But because of actions.
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) r9 {! z1 K6 N4 j( S+ R- ]& V5 e Our life's prayers our answered
+ D: [. K, n& d& m) D. a Because even the smallest pebble ! c8 |% a( s; i- A
No matter how seemingly insignificant' s4 n5 E1 A) F0 H P2 N* a8 N" j
Changes the course of the lives" \7 b: E# T9 _- c9 I
Of those we touch.?
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3 \( c! j: Y: V: B And when the icy winds of death& i5 u! P: H5 \1 Q3 ?- ?% a
beckon our lasting attention
; `1 T6 F' y% ` We will gently leave this life 3 ~6 C, O0 V8 ]7 `/ c
With the knowledge that / M, g. k, s/ ?
because of that one pebble
+ x: y5 E7 C, y% R9 } The world will never be the same.5 V5 R! _$ ?6 b. k
7 A+ {5 `1 G# s* K( o And then we have heaven … K( ~' M/ P( Z; i
3 V8 v Q$ L4 z- O' ~
Ross Rosenberg
* a( F! o7 R9 _6 o- _: V' A% b 8/18/03 |
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发表于 2010-3-12 06:36
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