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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. , m3 a# `0 V! p
. d3 C, b* H' X: E9 D 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.- m% A E' f" X) j
. p! k4 }& A5 e. [5 h Heaven8 }! w* s. }8 R" e
The pebble is worn smooth 1 u+ y5 C" e ?3 C$ L9 `) F
Made small over time/ u0 a/ @2 J6 J' e! ~. ? n9 Q
A product of a cataclysmic force of nature3 u% `5 r% Z0 o2 ~; w: i
A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock
' `3 N( n% j" f }! Z$ S3 \ An accidental offspring of a boulder g7 z5 \8 N+ [$ U- u0 C
But just a very small stone. . J7 s4 ^2 a7 p
- _* }( @% a5 T5 I1 [% |
The pebble's place in our world
: u6 S; c& F l( i+ |' C& g5 c, X Is neither understood nor appreciated
) n6 k' P0 Z* |# Y6 C Y But when thrown into a glassy calm pond
2 i" I2 Q/ D, h7 Z2 E Its insignificance is transformed% E6 z |+ E% S$ s
Its meaning and purpose is unleashed.- Y8 v# R/ A3 _) d3 k( z
9 e" g W" T) D4 y The instant the pebble kisses the pond
( f* }5 R* j- y" i Its signature of concentric ripples 7 D) ]1 J4 \, b+ S- z
Spiral outwards
- \9 r" z) R% D% k) t. u3 ]1 N7 u Moving far beyond itself.: c3 M. E) _8 O8 u: O
Gently affecting everything in its wake2 b/ }$ b! e- x4 O/ J
Forever altering the smooth placid surface.
; X% i, u8 [2 `' i3 e) q9 v $ C: ` O/ ]. ]1 T. X0 [3 X! I. r
The pebble creates its worth and meaning
. R1 ~* r9 f- ]+ S By unleashing its unimagined power?
4 U& g3 l3 i- W8 h8 x7 O Into a dueling force of action and reaction% B3 `! C8 \+ n* `- f
Creating karmic energy9 I) ]6 e- S. Z O3 X0 N+ K
Producing lasting and fluid impressions.& z* ]' m* s, |" b, L
$ s( c% J; I9 V5 G! J; t2 X; m2 } Aren't we all pebbles?9 c" [" g( t- J+ c
Feeling small and insignificant! b) H5 X( R$ {# u: u( X7 D) X4 L
But ultimately recognizing
/ D' _0 _3 ~6 u p A That who we are meant to be. ?& m9 i5 \7 M8 V! F4 j
Can never be measured in isolation5 O# r G7 K; \3 q c$ s
on a path into ourselves.: k `* V* G) T1 g) b a* ^
4 O: ~+ z. X: n4 j8 Z: ?
It is true then:
$ f" Z7 `% K' q Our everlasting future 3 q/ h# X3 E( E' S) @; n
Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles
# ^% J" g" a3 c) C! Z y2 w Into the pond of life
; E1 P, n+ m( h6 s/ U Creating ripples 1 r( W' p# Y( g
that leave unique mark on our world - {+ K5 o4 c% I3 C- @9 I' e# a
Not because of thoughts " R/ W* H. y1 X) z! e& b
not because of well meaning plans
) P3 t' d' E2 e But because of actions.
" u t; T; l( a m6 N) Q8 M
) R6 w: e1 j' m# W1 Q7 M Our life's prayers our answered$ u! d, A v0 W* Y. k0 d
Because even the smallest pebble
) `6 z" u2 P3 F/ K* u No matter how seemingly insignificant# U* S5 S/ c. R' e4 Z0 W0 R A
Changes the course of the lives* Q0 I' c4 {7 a
Of those we touch.? ' }. u6 k% V/ x- L
9 d; y1 O. C2 |0 s And when the icy winds of death( ~" a# H2 B' @) W# _
beckon our lasting attention
' n' ], }8 u3 {- K) Q' _ We will gently leave this life
! p- ]5 v+ A$ Q0 k' ` With the knowledge that ! c9 a* X' P$ u% c- @
because of that one pebble $ |1 D( f) i9 T- m* K" W; l" `& f5 X
The world will never be the same.) _* Z+ O, X9 l1 a
: N8 J, `# x) T+ ?: x5 J" I5 \ And then we have heaven …5 [/ `7 ^6 t6 [5 }& V
( Z7 }$ _- J; d2 Z
Ross Rosenberg+ v2 j/ t, {1 _4 Z$ f
8/18/03 |
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发表于 2010-3-12 06:36
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