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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. ' r' G$ q+ o4 F4 y; G) f4 n9 a
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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.9 o- R2 J' g& k* A/ j
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Heaven0 e3 h7 L1 i! o) F- b, c1 T( n0 w4 O
The pebble is worn smooth * E" [# a5 ?1 O$ I" z, h
Made small over time
& I; K# b$ z7 v# O! _9 p- ] A product of a cataclysmic force of nature0 Q2 {" `$ |% ^6 D* Q
A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock/ M$ D+ y, f t: Q* q7 o# _
An accidental offspring of a boulder X3 `( n' V* I$ q. n5 ?
But just a very small stone. & T. c5 H$ T" |0 `
# _: r$ n$ b/ i; l) r5 h( l! y* D The pebble's place in our world K5 C! i' |, O. o, O5 k
Is neither understood nor appreciated
& I& R8 T* u4 F2 Z3 [# v/ r j0 T- x But when thrown into a glassy calm pond 8 u2 W7 P7 ?, J* k$ W1 t
Its insignificance is transformed8 h& N( n p3 u# B! ?7 q9 V
Its meaning and purpose is unleashed., D! C+ P3 Y6 z3 o, c, b& X
7 G4 Q1 u( Z A The instant the pebble kisses the pond- O" A1 \; C6 i$ S- r- B3 Z7 _
Its signature of concentric ripples % @% Y" ~& m1 }: ?' V' K
Spiral outwards
$ _ ?7 U+ a. J# U/ B/ T: g Moving far beyond itself.6 l8 N% m6 U, `- i! O \
Gently affecting everything in its wake7 B0 _0 Y4 y. t9 V; O; A
Forever altering the smooth placid surface.
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( w7 p3 v, K6 {: c: G+ y The pebble creates its worth and meaning
& L$ X8 A$ w! }! \2 b6 @3 v3 C By unleashing its unimagined power?
: R3 i* N# z' g \% k: w1 J# z Into a dueling force of action and reaction
+ [4 P- W% j8 p7 p Creating karmic energy3 q# I8 C8 K5 u3 M# T
Producing lasting and fluid impressions.
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! D- c/ q8 I* t" @. W; I Aren't we all pebbles?: [: X9 N w' p
Feeling small and insignificant! p I6 Z. S0 c1 I4 G2 c
But ultimately recognizing
h$ T! s9 x. d ?: r9 L2 s0 T. w4 b2 h That who we are meant to be
, Q1 N- M- S: l$ Y+ w Can never be measured in isolation% y5 Y6 m% ]) Q9 C
on a path into ourselves.+ D' c1 m" M* V+ L1 X
7 O$ j( c# }/ c It is true then:5 ^" G) j! w3 W8 a! K
Our everlasting future
0 R/ W( G; u! J. r% t& @+ R8 Y Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles
* U0 z p& Z( @7 `# b Into the pond of life. d# W7 k/ z' V
Creating ripples - P- {. X2 \7 K9 Q/ J
that leave unique mark on our world
* `9 L* ?1 J" ]. g G5 G Not because of thoughts
% B7 W3 F1 i( w8 c+ M not because of well meaning plans1 L3 n4 f2 ?( |
But because of actions.
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Our life's prayers our answered
, C5 ^4 {# v& v) `8 D Because even the smallest pebble ) |0 E# F8 e# r9 S% O2 }
No matter how seemingly insignificant
$ l, z, O5 P9 N7 o- U0 f Changes the course of the lives) q/ r2 W' L6 Y- y
Of those we touch.? " K+ r$ h+ C; k
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And when the icy winds of death
' a1 z8 F) [9 l/ w beckon our lasting attention2 t& w6 Y6 d( [) |$ [7 ^% f
We will gently leave this life
3 Y+ ~) ^7 }1 g) R. I With the knowledge that
* J% Z! g# S, e8 p2 o8 Z. [) Q because of that one pebble
/ E# B0 ~5 U; C: |1 d+ r. L6 M0 U The world will never be the same.
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1 `* }8 I$ [3 ?, t$ e& a% B1 L And then we have heaven …5 h8 [* g7 l* I% T! G
: t. t1 _ b; f! ]5 P! i# z Ross Rosenberg( K+ S5 _1 @, `1 s
8/18/03 |
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