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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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; D$ p, a2 ]: u6 P6 Q \4 Y 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.8 p! ]% D0 `# [2 q% D7 h; q
, P4 l* F/ p0 p% l. p Heaven% g8 H2 i+ ~- n- F
The pebble is worn smooth ! ?7 N; h2 k% E# x1 |
Made small over time
. D1 d8 C( H9 s' u5 Z0 v A product of a cataclysmic force of nature
8 v# F' S/ W/ ?/ Y A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock
3 U! p9 `9 \+ \5 M; K3 d0 y& ? An accidental offspring of a boulder 4 x5 B+ ~, r$ ^. N" y7 a
But just a very small stone. : i! |" d5 v; B9 H" d
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The pebble's place in our world
! E: X5 A) |, \+ v Is neither understood nor appreciated* V$ r3 p" M t- w& r# ?3 @
But when thrown into a glassy calm pond 8 C. B, F" S6 \
Its insignificance is transformed8 e; K7 N: Y' }! J
Its meaning and purpose is unleashed.# Q$ e# u, p7 G4 O+ ?1 V
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The instant the pebble kisses the pond; G9 }) _9 y, g1 b9 V
Its signature of concentric ripples
$ p; v9 t% j' w( ~ Spiral outwards
) Q- e2 r' H9 g6 } Moving far beyond itself.! D8 X9 i1 ]( a
Gently affecting everything in its wake' n. g7 O* _8 z
Forever altering the smooth placid surface.
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$ j3 {7 q. Y4 U. E0 a) \ ~ The pebble creates its worth and meaning 1 H5 g" C. E* s% r0 r. _
By unleashing its unimagined power? ! L: [0 D2 `+ h
Into a dueling force of action and reaction4 L( `: p0 X1 Z- Q6 N5 M; H
Creating karmic energy
, v: G( h% m+ b4 O Producing lasting and fluid impressions.! v- ?1 L# ~2 Y$ L5 v5 v( I
' {( b- Y% L( |+ c Aren't we all pebbles?5 F3 F! k0 g6 P0 b: A2 p0 o3 A
Feeling small and insignificant
# ], K# A8 q" b2 g) S; w But ultimately recognizing * d& b7 N( `' B0 k
That who we are meant to be
$ y: a5 T; f y" I* D, h Can never be measured in isolation
- r& W8 ^; b- g4 _ on a path into ourselves.: {& m6 e- U8 `
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It is true then:% n x3 H, @3 w, c- r
Our everlasting future
; s5 n) e- L3 t$ I Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles: V" R' G/ Y) e& ~
Into the pond of life
$ O2 M& Q) l9 v: m Creating ripples ) k3 d' b7 W" `2 j! i
that leave unique mark on our world
! N. p' s1 [! u7 G& [ O Not because of thoughts ; N: Z4 O$ Y! v* o9 q
not because of well meaning plans6 s9 e" v* T, j |
But because of actions. T8 B7 j6 A" k9 V9 p: T
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Our life's prayers our answered
7 E1 e" ^/ f$ t. V( v2 D+ U Because even the smallest pebble
! B- a/ U. Y. C9 U No matter how seemingly insignificant
0 U% k3 p! C8 Z0 j- R Changes the course of the lives
0 p$ M2 T7 M- J( M1 F: ^1 K Of those we touch.? . `# \5 K) ^0 e+ R& x* E7 Q
, p: }1 d" u! d2 n1 h+ \ And when the icy winds of death- i1 d; n' @& n9 k+ |8 s
beckon our lasting attention4 t5 r; T* U" N' e! n0 b# _
We will gently leave this life 9 P7 c) j: T0 D, L: J7 ^
With the knowledge that
% y+ P0 U. X' ?* w- @, A7 I2 r4 k% z because of that one pebble 5 w( l- @7 z, L+ L( D
The world will never be the same.
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And then we have heaven …
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Ross Rosenberg
9 y, ~& S. v; A. Z/ u {, V 8/18/03 |
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