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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. 9 `+ Z% S6 M" f! y4 ~3 I' A
2 d! s) z4 W7 z/ Z# j4 J- C 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.2 g9 p. F' k6 D$ J/ w; n
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Heaven, N# \5 l" Q( l. s
The pebble is worn smooth
% N( d* h: H( Q; Q Made small over time
1 Z1 u8 {( r* f9 _. ^3 i A product of a cataclysmic force of nature; I* F o" u- q: S9 d
A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock
8 K! R1 s& w- s/ [ An accidental offspring of a boulder
T1 _4 p4 c: a) g8 i But just a very small stone.
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' p7 g2 [5 o! m: W3 E+ Y The pebble's place in our world - v' Y: l; l5 z4 `9 E0 q
Is neither understood nor appreciated/ }4 [% _' A0 N; t& k! i
But when thrown into a glassy calm pond
- Q+ n* A+ u; y) |/ x& S Its insignificance is transformed2 Q% @' H D: f( z% K- y. D
Its meaning and purpose is unleashed.
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9 V! c8 z6 D: i9 C/ H6 R The instant the pebble kisses the pond; l9 G, v% ^" D& |$ e: T! U
Its signature of concentric ripples / R* l. u5 J% X. J
Spiral outwards / G0 t; J, s3 {( g* A3 s
Moving far beyond itself.
8 L: p* J z+ ~& _) X: c& F# L Gently affecting everything in its wake
9 [+ D( s" r2 _6 h# ` Forever altering the smooth placid surface.( V# ~# O7 ~. s0 n! a
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The pebble creates its worth and meaning 1 V+ Q8 E/ R- g3 x
By unleashing its unimagined power?
8 x! e" i! t. Y& n9 v Into a dueling force of action and reaction. ^/ N6 H' I6 L9 B, S, e8 Q( Q
Creating karmic energy
! Y W1 k% |6 D" ]6 N Producing lasting and fluid impressions.0 c1 O* M+ J1 G4 b& ^
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Aren't we all pebbles?" m5 J1 p) s8 H$ a9 q
Feeling small and insignificant2 G3 ^# C: T; {. i' x
But ultimately recognizing 2 u5 g7 \) @$ v
That who we are meant to be
* E C7 X5 L# k, h& t; a Can never be measured in isolation( A( t( B' A: I- ?4 c9 H6 S
on a path into ourselves.
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* T/ O1 z a( ? K+ F: y3 S' P It is true then:8 W' o! h U4 c0 K1 e; S, t
Our everlasting future 6 l; G( d0 O7 l4 F1 u( h W, _
Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles
" s2 i5 I# C, q0 l Into the pond of life
$ b" O2 l5 V7 q" w' C x Creating ripples
8 L* X3 f4 W( h that leave unique mark on our world ' p# a, @! F; X# J9 k# e' K u, A
Not because of thoughts
. U/ {0 I0 J( R6 D$ ]6 D not because of well meaning plans; j) H+ G O) M5 n, m6 W
But because of actions. 8 K. V' `9 d/ K; W8 R; [" ]" R
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Our life's prayers our answered
- ~$ ]0 Z j8 \( U Because even the smallest pebble # A `% P9 ?! _3 W0 r
No matter how seemingly insignificant0 |7 g- d; { }8 w6 D, b: G* G- O: l( V
Changes the course of the lives
! j2 @2 `2 Y. D& ?- n8 ` Of those we touch.?
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" T* i/ I# G1 b( G! U# K% Z& a And when the icy winds of death
& [. Q. \5 o; n5 W4 k8 S: o4 b- J beckon our lasting attention9 n" y5 O0 ^( N! O! n1 ?$ e
We will gently leave this life
& @2 T v5 o' F With the knowledge that 2 p3 C5 S' q9 J! \( d% g! p' j
because of that one pebble c- V1 C3 l5 ~ P U5 \
The world will never be the same.
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1 j2 n# c" n% m. r0 j. Q And then we have heaven …' k0 V% A+ [, z+ O
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Ross Rosenberg- B- H! R3 q2 B9 `0 z
8/18/03 |
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发表于 2010-3-12 06:36
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