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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.
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Heaven; j4 t! [& M' `0 m7 Y, l5 L" l! {
The pebble is worn smooth
! D9 [- L7 h. x( A4 x9 R& V Made small over time
: p! f3 e5 N: F* m1 l4 i5 w A product of a cataclysmic force of nature' C( J3 T) Q+ E' P5 u' f, b
A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock
# m" |% @ D3 O! s An accidental offspring of a boulder
; ^: R7 J& P9 J1 s But just a very small stone. 7 M2 P0 `3 C' p$ D/ i
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The pebble's place in our world 9 e0 I. i" Q# ?' i
Is neither understood nor appreciated. E Z+ x) O, O n: ~
But when thrown into a glassy calm pond
( i _& n: q4 `+ f! ] Its insignificance is transformed q/ Y+ P2 a) T2 W" b, S D* T$ L
Its meaning and purpose is unleashed.! i% m$ W) O9 f3 P- u; X
' U# p4 y. q; Y$ Z& c9 H9 k The instant the pebble kisses the pond
0 E+ g9 o) ?( P& n f& E2 h Its signature of concentric ripples % b" S% y# A8 F$ ?
Spiral outwards ( m9 f1 G& I$ b! ~) _
Moving far beyond itself.
' r2 j4 T2 a& Q; z z" O Gently affecting everything in its wake- q0 b) S* {% R- Z8 f
Forever altering the smooth placid surface.% b J' X, Y) |& \
. `: b8 `+ p, g9 W The pebble creates its worth and meaning
( S* `' m0 ]7 q+ j By unleashing its unimagined power? 3 i9 ], I: I1 N2 t L5 a
Into a dueling force of action and reaction% |# S! K( R7 A7 o; W
Creating karmic energy
. p3 f5 ~" o0 @7 k5 q Producing lasting and fluid impressions.; J" K# a% p5 w5 [+ _, ^" S# a
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Aren't we all pebbles?1 W I% Q% K1 E
Feeling small and insignificant
4 k( S( K* o6 Q# P: k* N But ultimately recognizing ) w' c5 L1 d; ?$ u: D
That who we are meant to be
$ T, M0 r2 I& F4 ~8 O Can never be measured in isolation
9 A& y6 D, j2 F& S& l- _- s% I8 R9 T on a path into ourselves.
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It is true then:% Y% D7 G. l! C9 U
Our everlasting future , `$ h0 y/ e- _5 J6 x+ t
Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles
3 O& p5 B( S( s' I3 k Z# d Into the pond of life8 S& q; s/ L$ N0 I
Creating ripples : Q$ P2 Z0 Y- K0 L
that leave unique mark on our world 4 A- M8 i, L- k- u
Not because of thoughts 4 a6 h: R" g, o7 x' z
not because of well meaning plans
# x6 p- M- [7 s- B( Y: C' C But because of actions.
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Our life's prayers our answered" ^/ _" _1 U+ K4 Z. M! ]% a6 }( M
Because even the smallest pebble 3 y; P4 P# J2 j3 E" @+ D3 p4 O2 P" v! w
No matter how seemingly insignificant
1 L0 I5 k+ E% j8 n. P, i Changes the course of the lives
! V' ^: D8 f) T Of those we touch.?
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! J; f* A& o H+ Q And when the icy winds of death
* I; C/ M! ?8 s beckon our lasting attention
6 D n S- T9 O5 z We will gently leave this life & i0 R( ^1 y" m6 \
With the knowledge that
- k: r& k) u0 c& n- m! b, s because of that one pebble
6 @" ]* M6 D/ p5 C6 e) H The world will never be the same.1 u7 W, ~: i& p) Y' ^2 L
4 M- S6 B4 |( Q8 J3 ` And then we have heaven …
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- A; A2 e! J3 o* m( ] Ross Rosenberg/ J% \9 w' V4 u& j N- c
8/18/03 |
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发表于 2010-3-12 06:36
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