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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) X* D) ?3 i% n V+ T/ x
The pebble is worn smooth % Q+ v3 z6 \% S( y! k
Made small over time
! V% o6 s5 {) N3 A1 k A product of a cataclysmic force of nature2 z$ K6 g5 o- F6 v8 z9 D/ f Z
A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock- l. D, \1 G% }, L) d% k8 h9 E
An accidental offspring of a boulder $ _6 t; K8 h" ]6 [2 F
But just a very small stone.
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The pebble's place in our world . X4 k' l: [) _! h
Is neither understood nor appreciated
: n4 t! j* R: q' |2 g But when thrown into a glassy calm pond
1 E L3 Q9 q( P+ X7 u9 \; t Its insignificance is transformed
4 i; s: r; K9 t" L. ? Its meaning and purpose is unleashed.
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# G$ P$ b) U. u. U0 d! ~8 Z) i: x The instant the pebble kisses the pond
2 G+ ]/ z2 k2 S O1 B; x3 n* H/ g Its signature of concentric ripples
; h: R. d7 t! ^- I5 p; V' p3 z Spiral outwards
4 A" M' m* s# s t Moving far beyond itself.
1 Z, h' j8 X( C( i1 Q4 {, r Gently affecting everything in its wake
/ G6 x9 C/ {) o, P' |! \# T Forever altering the smooth placid surface.
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8 X& `4 z9 G+ t The pebble creates its worth and meaning ) b% G; z+ A3 R3 ?' [
By unleashing its unimagined power? 5 g4 {4 C8 H$ h( w, ]/ d
Into a dueling force of action and reaction4 s2 \2 {0 o7 O8 b( _. ?2 t
Creating karmic energy3 H+ [* L: M4 s( i. K! A: r
Producing lasting and fluid impressions.
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0 u1 `; \+ z, e Aren't we all pebbles?/ x# b% z; w: f: o$ M) Z
Feeling small and insignificant8 v9 B) }& U' m. X
But ultimately recognizing
. K# c. y" ]- V" L That who we are meant to be
, p# s8 T Z6 L- K# I; i9 t Can never be measured in isolation8 A1 J+ y, c3 ]/ ?& H: ~+ q' x
on a path into ourselves., Y3 a) n. ~7 R/ `4 A" I
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It is true then:6 P% z2 [5 E& l$ W8 Y
Our everlasting future
8 D. R6 K& x! ~ \% { Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles6 E1 I4 Q8 M( y6 b" G. E
Into the pond of life
/ [+ {; b/ c M; E- } Creating ripples
# C/ a. @, r2 ]3 ~- K that leave unique mark on our world
0 x D% V/ s) w2 @+ n Not because of thoughts * w3 l. u- i* v2 _
not because of well meaning plans+ v% | w% T& g$ A
But because of actions. 1 f9 ?! D7 Z4 l8 |: N6 C
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Our life's prayers our answered
+ E1 b6 m7 _' Y" _& m$ r Because even the smallest pebble
% ?6 E* j" Z( b" f! Q* w No matter how seemingly insignificant, H) ?) i& m$ |7 x& V: [
Changes the course of the lives
6 C7 T, L5 A q. G$ { Of those we touch.?
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And when the icy winds of death3 z! Q7 w1 i2 }+ N6 h
beckon our lasting attention
$ |( N' o" w( c We will gently leave this life ! ?+ c1 _6 T! u9 T! f0 W2 A
With the knowledge that
/ b: L7 f& c( Y; T+ E because of that one pebble + r, d$ C& t' M6 `
The world will never be the same.
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2 p9 [9 w4 i: p' y4 E And then we have heaven …: d3 y/ T3 ?' g/ S
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Ross Rosenberg T( z4 N6 Z2 U2 r: ~
8/18/03 |
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发表于 2010-3-12 06:36
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