 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. 6 Q( c2 u2 {1 j. f8 e) d
% H/ T; ]# R f8 \8 ]
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.: S0 z4 x- O3 |) [ a
! T; P' g% n3 b; V# g2 _ Heaven7 H, O7 i5 W" q' O2 Y/ U
The pebble is worn smooth
' c x: N7 N0 [9 J# ] Made small over time
, B6 j7 F( n$ V2 a5 Z2 x( ] A product of a cataclysmic force of nature
% o0 M- f6 p; _+ h2 z8 h A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock
R1 }7 \& |7 P( F! X6 E$ N5 Z0 j An accidental offspring of a boulder
' D$ E& a" C" m* L J But just a very small stone. * j/ \3 \% C) E/ ]3 \
" P$ U1 q, |) U0 @( R
The pebble's place in our world 0 m z& z; y$ O3 U
Is neither understood nor appreciated! ~4 |9 i3 ~) P* e$ ~# J
But when thrown into a glassy calm pond 2 d* U$ |# j! C# e2 F! I6 f
Its insignificance is transformed
$ |/ ]2 q4 `9 r3 P Its meaning and purpose is unleashed.$ d8 A( L/ R) u- n
3 z" `* C, @) c! e7 n5 C1 l The instant the pebble kisses the pond
6 @6 f: i* H K7 X Its signature of concentric ripples # h8 h5 G& `1 W0 T
Spiral outwards
( R; P9 a7 E# X' | Moving far beyond itself.- _* N1 U* h( Y- X* ~. ^! e/ e1 }
Gently affecting everything in its wake
' |9 E# q+ X/ M1 F Forever altering the smooth placid surface.
1 ?5 v# N1 M" `1 m ! r0 h7 T4 I- y+ l" Q
The pebble creates its worth and meaning , j% }& ~5 ]" P3 Y
By unleashing its unimagined power?
$ w+ I/ d7 J! d. T% y2 x4 D# G Into a dueling force of action and reaction
. R* k* ^- t) r/ S3 g Creating karmic energy
@0 }& C& y9 m' [7 Y% Z8 o Producing lasting and fluid impressions.
& s8 A( q/ }- f" l4 `* Q 3 D7 \: M; R& \& R6 c
Aren't we all pebbles?
# {" z7 i7 H1 c( h Feeling small and insignificant4 P+ [ Z* y2 u
But ultimately recognizing
: X8 R; b$ V) S! h! x2 k That who we are meant to be% U3 c8 V4 s q+ _* C
Can never be measured in isolation. }: H; [1 O1 \8 |
on a path into ourselves.
$ s+ l4 `& }% M' t" A( A- Z* q: d 4 j6 M: E% S2 z) e
It is true then: u" a: t0 b; ]" D! f
Our everlasting future
$ T7 C# o- n+ h4 y Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles [6 i7 i! \! _; z. S% b
Into the pond of life$ m N/ g; B- }- H2 z
Creating ripples 2 Y4 a! q3 Q/ z( v
that leave unique mark on our world / f& t$ I+ n% z
Not because of thoughts ! A& u1 S Z! G4 r! |8 {: h! o
not because of well meaning plans0 c" C" t( q" a
But because of actions. : N' e4 Q! R8 z) l2 _& `
) q2 h3 c, Z2 z' w4 V, E4 ] Our life's prayers our answered
% K4 w _8 `6 M7 v7 A7 ~ Because even the smallest pebble
6 i p: ^' A" G1 e, U No matter how seemingly insignificant+ G3 j, O* C# s" T8 V
Changes the course of the lives
" ^0 m+ y: X( h* c& N+ F8 d Of those we touch.? ; N0 e! K1 L4 v4 ]. B; `
( z0 x4 n8 a. V& R- o
And when the icy winds of death
8 v. ?7 H5 \0 d! D0 d beckon our lasting attention. g* f4 z) o3 c: Z' k
We will gently leave this life
+ I* B) g. K9 L% ` With the knowledge that ; [) g' N' O! O" R% F
because of that one pebble ; f& l$ n, L$ Y5 ?
The world will never be the same.
# y4 V# l3 ^: y$ g; g1 F 9 U& F4 e+ P7 m" X
And then we have heaven …
( W4 y3 u5 \; f' h e 1 K @) \( X' t0 i+ l) m9 U n% e& {* O
Ross Rosenberg
0 w" O4 Z" o' r* w1 v- Q3 M 8/18/03 |
|