 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. ( `# _8 J: A+ N" x
Q3 \3 n4 `/ u% a 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.
- s( Z0 \" x+ l' A6 I
: M" Y% ~9 g* N; ` Heaven- v! G0 x Y9 J7 k! v/ T
The pebble is worn smooth
" @2 N |% g% g9 \/ z) } Made small over time
4 a% g' d6 h+ S: ^; T' g& H A product of a cataclysmic force of nature
1 V* K: a! n, O1 _) i2 m A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock6 h% F! w) D4 h& E3 w$ o" k
An accidental offspring of a boulder ' h, m" @5 e- P, X8 n0 [
But just a very small stone. % j" J+ }4 L( L- [0 B* R6 c0 n
3 z3 D- _7 p7 |: i, U The pebble's place in our world
0 r7 }2 Z; D" W7 {! k+ z2 J) {2 P Is neither understood nor appreciated
! g6 [: c- k+ {9 _0 ]( l) L7 K But when thrown into a glassy calm pond
: `8 E9 A2 S& d e7 h! M Its insignificance is transformed
: _9 ]) d" h l7 h+ Z% r: S3 ?0 P Its meaning and purpose is unleashed.
& }$ }$ A2 S: Y! A9 d9 \ 5 q2 N! \1 I$ u2 Y d" B( X* r. ^9 ?! l+ n
The instant the pebble kisses the pond
1 u, {7 n l2 L) K% {" N Its signature of concentric ripples
! h% [ H2 i ?/ M0 Y S" q) c& _ Spiral outwards
3 s3 x6 E" S: u9 ~ Moving far beyond itself.
, K2 u- e2 J7 M0 \: h# m# h4 G Gently affecting everything in its wake, F# }1 j* B5 w, b8 R8 l
Forever altering the smooth placid surface.
; j# L& U! x# h1 F 9 f, ~! ^1 v: q9 W& ~/ @: l) |
The pebble creates its worth and meaning
, h3 X8 O2 P( s5 N. m9 u By unleashing its unimagined power?
; e K' ?% [# \; @! X2 S Into a dueling force of action and reaction5 Y3 u' a6 P7 A4 [. d7 k! F
Creating karmic energy0 R- J9 V2 W$ y m
Producing lasting and fluid impressions.
4 i, ]4 |6 Q; W) J# U o' M4 B0 Z8 d# m- J$ C) O4 V
Aren't we all pebbles?
& `8 z- [$ h& t) G5 } Feeling small and insignificant' x; k+ Y& M: x# T
But ultimately recognizing ( P# j. D5 c2 w! s
That who we are meant to be
0 N! W w' Q" K) m+ J5 N Can never be measured in isolation) E- U' E2 U2 A6 q; ~% j
on a path into ourselves.
; V! j# p1 X. `5 B" N' Z3 f" L' [ 2 E/ o- q) N- |8 {! n
It is true then: E+ k& f! U- H
Our everlasting future S3 E k+ }# ~% h8 @0 @* x! {8 q
Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles
0 ^- @7 @3 a; y! a. A/ j Into the pond of life, c! c, m9 u: f# |0 R
Creating ripples
0 C( ]$ y' L- H# ~ that leave unique mark on our world
+ e5 O1 J1 T( @' ^ Not because of thoughts
7 Q# v. K) M! ?% t0 h5 a. s9 r not because of well meaning plans( j; D( _$ t% r) x) p
But because of actions. $ G$ N% p: Q& t( ^1 P* e- Q
& \9 Z- N3 I% Z6 T+ j. A+ h
Our life's prayers our answered7 Z7 ~: |3 ~8 S/ r
Because even the smallest pebble 3 Y8 q5 P2 m& q8 ]3 b" H
No matter how seemingly insignificant$ Q4 F* Q$ m( ~3 f. V
Changes the course of the lives
: l; ?6 w$ r* }2 i5 a/ e Of those we touch.? 4 g5 ?& f3 ?+ N: ^
9 ^& d1 A5 ~1 [/ [5 M! B/ \" I1 k! _ And when the icy winds of death/ f; g) s( ~, g7 d- h
beckon our lasting attention6 {, x: K; T. H) V' h6 J: W
We will gently leave this life ) X/ s1 X; P+ p- u4 S8 ]) t
With the knowledge that & T3 o! s" q& g7 Q6 O$ Z3 m, Z
because of that one pebble
) l ?9 E: l: Y0 w! w- d The world will never be the same.
& `; B0 R4 Q" q: ?1 N5 g9 U
- j$ l l0 q y$ I! N6 k# g And then we have heaven …8 M; b2 D3 L4 A8 C% R+ J
; z- T/ E, [8 @/ I& q) V/ a# D Ross Rosenberg& I4 i' v# E3 t, r5 A
8/18/03 |
|