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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. & I" g/ F6 W6 `0 s8 _1 }
4 j2 {5 e; w0 a1 D. o 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 \8 B8 Z% t k/ C2 _5 s
( B+ J, j+ S, [ Heaven
9 T. h5 x& i8 i: g1 [2 B" } The pebble is worn smooth
- n- F' q: i5 J5 R Made small over time8 ?. `+ m! \, U1 ~* q9 k0 }4 }9 O' v( W
A product of a cataclysmic force of nature
, u% R& c0 ~/ C/ y& M8 }# I A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock
# H) e8 {; E7 u' s& ^ An accidental offspring of a boulder 1 l* M6 Y) n/ M- A% Q4 e% F2 E( {. v
But just a very small stone.
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) O2 e5 J1 l" q' q; l2 ^+ c The pebble's place in our world * [7 x" C) C* f' e' F
Is neither understood nor appreciated: {* e2 I. |8 U9 n
But when thrown into a glassy calm pond
, V0 l% J f, x7 M Its insignificance is transformed& u) q' p- _3 q
Its meaning and purpose is unleashed.2 W& Q4 p" H; l: u( x$ E% E1 k: n U+ Y
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The instant the pebble kisses the pond
" x: T9 ^7 L- i Its signature of concentric ripples
$ g9 P" z- m, T/ o Spiral outwards
m- u7 L$ [% B8 _. d+ r0 T* u' [ Moving far beyond itself./ G0 t- _/ D/ Z' C4 F
Gently affecting everything in its wake2 Z' O- U/ S# P& `
Forever altering the smooth placid surface." C' Y8 G/ y. g. p
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The pebble creates its worth and meaning ( r+ L+ h7 N k2 p, ]
By unleashing its unimagined power? . x3 C% }5 u, u K( [
Into a dueling force of action and reaction7 K. X. h# b9 J$ ], a% V
Creating karmic energy
: Z$ t" x! H6 D4 G Producing lasting and fluid impressions." w6 _2 Z9 V3 b% p) p$ L
8 r, q; O$ u$ J4 o Aren't we all pebbles?
, q% J9 {! V# t Feeling small and insignificant5 S6 C# ]2 q# q, A- U$ p
But ultimately recognizing
5 n. x* ^0 v' L( l+ C$ D$ T That who we are meant to be8 k( O! s2 g& s# A$ i# N
Can never be measured in isolation6 m$ q: f* s% z" t8 B* H
on a path into ourselves.4 s" M, U; e6 q7 e8 t2 ?2 T
5 U# D& ?- }6 S1 ~* k It is true then:
3 v; R+ d( k% c Our everlasting future
- k3 ^" H) _) d# A' J Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles
' S' `+ b4 b: {6 D Into the pond of life+ T: x. @9 W, |. r q
Creating ripples
3 l2 z# b* x" ]) s' ?& H4 X, P that leave unique mark on our world
! F& E0 A' U+ Y% [. V# _1 b Not because of thoughts
* A& s$ ?1 I- |5 i8 a9 W not because of well meaning plans( T4 V% v3 p3 ]% p8 }; F
But because of actions.
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Our life's prayers our answered. g& G1 {( B1 U+ n% F( q/ h
Because even the smallest pebble ' A5 o- y) e3 T% D3 a
No matter how seemingly insignificant" b5 P9 T) T3 `
Changes the course of the lives
9 Z# p1 F9 j* `5 k& e Of those we touch.? ) z9 }. F' ?6 a, [7 T) K
; Q- _- g) y& `( ~! B4 H& D And when the icy winds of death/ g% k7 i# P5 Q+ b2 e N% u
beckon our lasting attention2 J% |# y, k" e' `6 y: w/ I
We will gently leave this life , l" ]% N! T y' q
With the knowledge that 3 x: Y7 S% Q. A7 Y6 z6 l& \9 G' S
because of that one pebble , E+ x3 N3 p. j' j+ M
The world will never be the same.
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And then we have heaven …4 j) Q2 H. N8 T
J6 H* z, V1 n9 i9 I, I4 z! C Ross Rosenberg$ W. N; c2 G/ C" g3 d' i
8/18/03 |
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