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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. $ [; ?4 m( D+ c
/ z% |5 M" E9 A" K( W) L 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- H! \ I" W; V M# H
The pebble is worn smooth $ o; a z- }7 i# N: a" B, B' q" r2 E
Made small over time
" K2 N( \( E+ h+ Z0 T! { A product of a cataclysmic force of nature) B2 N- R- L+ {9 E; t" ?
A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock
. K4 D0 G* z9 ?; i' V' | An accidental offspring of a boulder
2 G8 z) x: m* ~7 p& `1 S But just a very small stone.
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The pebble's place in our world
! l/ G3 y! M9 N Is neither understood nor appreciated
h: O6 [% `/ }+ ?- P) r But when thrown into a glassy calm pond / D- I9 \$ Y3 A4 [
Its insignificance is transformed' C3 B2 J% ]. D# |" Y& D
Its meaning and purpose is unleashed.1 ^; ]! G2 l* f( j
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The instant the pebble kisses the pond* X0 `7 D1 T' p7 i. ^! I8 n
Its signature of concentric ripples
# ^& A9 z* G, D# V0 I( Q% G Spiral outwards 6 A' x% s- M8 z6 t( {2 F: g
Moving far beyond itself.: P6 x% J3 v# {4 f
Gently affecting everything in its wake0 A' _% k" g! g0 ^2 [3 `6 f2 ^
Forever altering the smooth placid surface.
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& f$ w2 I- S) J2 @3 ~( L0 \# [ The pebble creates its worth and meaning # R9 e, K) x. N, T! ^0 S2 \4 X
By unleashing its unimagined power?
& ]: V1 d4 w- e3 V. j6 q/ x- t Into a dueling force of action and reaction
T( R; {, `9 q q2 R6 ~) ] Creating karmic energy# l$ r$ f3 Q {3 G
Producing lasting and fluid impressions.
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Aren't we all pebbles?1 F9 s0 h$ D/ E g. V/ T0 |" f
Feeling small and insignificant7 @6 s$ l9 f7 v# Q9 t
But ultimately recognizing - b0 k/ I% b' x! q$ K* P
That who we are meant to be; C# z/ F3 Z" s$ j. Y
Can never be measured in isolation
; ]/ y: I F F5 t! S8 Q on a path into ourselves.8 I. a; F) ?2 v* N
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It is true then:
; A( C- b3 n4 M: I" X* j Our everlasting future
) i, `3 z# a3 D% R& I- a Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles1 ]6 [& ]+ r- ?' U$ Y
Into the pond of life' t2 W, q0 o8 T/ C
Creating ripples 3 E" W/ ^4 r! S7 V* W
that leave unique mark on our world
' [) u: z, }/ e c" r: g9 i$ M$ A3 d Not because of thoughts
5 Z3 l! a5 [: J, t, Q% y+ b not because of well meaning plans" e L: r0 k+ Q& U
But because of actions.
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Our life's prayers our answered: n# ]) d/ {' T/ Z# m
Because even the smallest pebble
4 t/ A) E7 ? v( F. x9 Z No matter how seemingly insignificant' e2 y+ x# m8 @0 o/ O
Changes the course of the lives, A% ^) w+ D: c' J3 `/ l* _! s
Of those we touch.?
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And when the icy winds of death
" R& ^& N6 X" s! ~- j beckon our lasting attention$ w7 ^3 E* Q- b- _
We will gently leave this life 2 v& @6 W& @! Z) L" j2 _* z! a
With the knowledge that 5 F3 a1 e1 D! ]. V
because of that one pebble
* C9 S: \* f4 U0 I7 ?: M" _' Q: Y The world will never be the same., U; R, C* X- p' {
2 n* R7 Z# D- [$ R7 @/ o/ l And then we have heaven …5 c+ I) d4 x0 h* h4 K4 h1 D
) I0 F: f. g+ o" |! e8 j7 L Ross Rosenberg4 C- U: R/ V# k* E L" m$ j
8/18/03 |
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发表于 2010-3-12 06:36
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