 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. " f7 X, S; g' {' F+ X7 n
3 R7 V9 L* t$ E) W$ o4 Q' W 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.
: ~* I; ~: T, v- Q, Y. t8 j ) j! ^1 M) A! H" d7 Q2 e
Heaven
+ G! b" C( k2 F6 W The pebble is worn smooth
# L* F* }- X8 y/ r1 T# c5 K Made small over time
& A: f* D2 {: f A product of a cataclysmic force of nature) p, C7 ]! _& f% o: X
A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock/ ]) [! \. t2 t3 A# T! M$ h
An accidental offspring of a boulder
) ?1 \9 X- ]; _; A& \% {$ s But just a very small stone. 0 s7 a. `5 m: L! J! Y' ] l% m
, G5 ]9 }9 K9 O$ {7 D The pebble's place in our world
: }& W( K9 Z t$ h' |; ^- g' k Is neither understood nor appreciated
# Q2 w7 ^/ K; [; |/ N. A2 a b# C+ E+ ] But when thrown into a glassy calm pond : |- w6 {5 Q# ~1 J; X: d' r* Q
Its insignificance is transformed3 _! k6 ]. ~: w7 N5 \2 z+ l, _
Its meaning and purpose is unleashed.% I+ R' w* _- Z! U$ |0 V) J
3 ]% n4 h9 f7 c6 p4 C i9 j# W
The instant the pebble kisses the pond
1 _7 q* M0 r" x Its signature of concentric ripples
0 N5 h6 C* O; B( G u5 k/ L Spiral outwards
0 U5 b: t* ^' Q+ S; _0 F Moving far beyond itself.
% R2 Z- v) @& i( |9 I1 W" Z Gently affecting everything in its wake
! `) P D4 t" A: m' } Forever altering the smooth placid surface.
- ]# I l. f$ e
, H8 [, I8 ?; O- Z+ j% l The pebble creates its worth and meaning
) J* d) ?( ~) T$ l By unleashing its unimagined power? " ^8 x- D, P. x2 I* E7 t
Into a dueling force of action and reaction
v) b' D$ n, L+ } Creating karmic energy* O$ z* E' A9 L+ e4 F: G
Producing lasting and fluid impressions.) r' e$ P0 |. R3 X8 _2 u+ j$ L
. l- W, g* b. K3 d7 ?, V Aren't we all pebbles?
' _' p+ T- l; v# s* k Feeling small and insignificant N7 W. Z, `* B8 m
But ultimately recognizing 6 x) E/ M. R5 F5 O) a+ U# t
That who we are meant to be" B H9 C8 g( P' Z
Can never be measured in isolation
p/ e' O8 l8 o on a path into ourselves.
6 o* C0 U# l' j( D) L: a, s; o 3 W1 l! ]) \/ m/ Q! W
It is true then:
3 J* g" T; ]7 i# ]6 n& T) }; E( ~' A Our everlasting future # O8 G* \- f' D4 b" g @
Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles1 z$ z# Q( R0 {
Into the pond of life
: Q: G x i! X+ { ]# `+ F Creating ripples 9 n2 V+ f( c: f' W
that leave unique mark on our world ' l- k; D( y5 g/ }
Not because of thoughts 1 ~" l5 J% a6 y4 r% ^& I$ m! a
not because of well meaning plans
' Z, U4 j# O1 {5 r+ r( ~. }) L% X But because of actions.
( h) F$ y4 S F" X4 P' L2 k+ | _
5 _9 g( p8 d- d( |# i2 {6 t; m Our life's prayers our answered
8 d$ }0 y# O) H+ f- }: J Because even the smallest pebble 7 d' `, t& p9 v7 @
No matter how seemingly insignificant
' b' l K: q: L$ l Changes the course of the lives& {: f1 _2 I0 M1 h2 I
Of those we touch.? 5 k9 Y; q- H1 x' a; Q" p6 a* S1 A
! y/ M* |6 | `# ^+ R+ l
And when the icy winds of death
/ S# M! Q3 h1 x+ R$ V beckon our lasting attention
: ? V& C0 p' K( ]% u# a) R' u: ^ We will gently leave this life & z- }# d. s5 B2 [
With the knowledge that
/ _( ?, P/ Q9 b1 L because of that one pebble
8 {) Z/ D3 E) c$ p7 ] The world will never be the same.: U# c E8 i( I' L Z ?: d
" r0 [- Q) Z8 {8 O
And then we have heaven …2 m. u2 j- F9 R- P
* [6 T0 p$ G3 U' P. E; C Ross Rosenberg
I& X% O- S; L2 l" D0 ^ 8/18/03 |
|