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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. / f4 Z3 ~2 l' @4 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.5 _1 G; [: g) C6 Y* W& W
5 h6 e T c9 ~# v" _2 ` Heaven6 T9 o8 R4 N( ^' W- H3 a/ n
The pebble is worn smooth ( E/ }/ J8 L; ]
Made small over time7 G( {& C( _3 c% ?
A product of a cataclysmic force of nature
; d( ?- @1 S" p A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock
7 E$ u& q6 H' x7 I) ` An accidental offspring of a boulder # b0 E2 s: y8 u1 s- ?9 ?
But just a very small stone.
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The pebble's place in our world 1 p9 P) h$ \ g, P
Is neither understood nor appreciated
9 z# b* A' {# V8 l1 P7 q But when thrown into a glassy calm pond ! U) D2 ?$ m& t6 t
Its insignificance is transformed
3 n4 U0 U+ w( F- n; N8 f& H. s Its meaning and purpose is unleashed.
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" G; _6 M! G! X2 X The instant the pebble kisses the pond
4 k7 H3 t" t( G3 a% X0 F Its signature of concentric ripples * ^% v+ y5 y" V8 ^# C; e
Spiral outwards
# r/ L0 R4 @0 h( A2 C& {/ | Moving far beyond itself.6 h `' E% L* F' j
Gently affecting everything in its wake! o+ {- p# G" x* V) D; F
Forever altering the smooth placid surface.
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The pebble creates its worth and meaning
2 k+ F- T( t2 ?, b! ?# r By unleashing its unimagined power? N. B% Q# l7 T1 U3 ~: j/ h
Into a dueling force of action and reaction
( I( G7 g1 @/ k& f. K* ^" Z Creating karmic energy$ u; e6 |$ s$ K& V" S
Producing lasting and fluid impressions.2 t7 c: s% N0 o: d1 {+ u& T
/ g" J/ i( P0 V. ]- ^+ W Aren't we all pebbles?, I' Y2 X: `- s$ ^+ J
Feeling small and insignificant
9 ]" J2 ^( y) D1 i1 b But ultimately recognizing
7 i6 x6 j3 [7 H: {- v That who we are meant to be
s8 O5 }, A7 N5 g; |6 Y Can never be measured in isolation
$ J; R* E7 C3 s" g7 | on a path into ourselves. k! G2 g1 M9 E) Z. _2 x* q
9 L( Y9 F) y1 h8 F) n It is true then:! s5 Q& ?1 d. F! n8 v# c3 @
Our everlasting future 3 a6 [& s2 K' F% A3 ?
Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles/ l4 a b* s6 C! E" a1 c
Into the pond of life
2 R1 {& _* Y9 |. F$ j q5 p Creating ripples ' g4 j; `5 ?% D" t
that leave unique mark on our world ( V- g( U; Q2 f$ C3 N
Not because of thoughts
^+ N& g5 N d& d( B not because of well meaning plans
' |. ?* u: Y5 Q But because of actions. 5 v& B$ R) r4 B
6 O! l& F* r6 h Our life's prayers our answered2 F1 Z& E. S. ~* I
Because even the smallest pebble 2 \5 o* z7 k, `. x
No matter how seemingly insignificant
6 u" J" u+ m: m5 A9 Q Changes the course of the lives9 j# D! }3 l" a2 P' s' B5 Y
Of those we touch.?
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And when the icy winds of death
h! A! j* i4 S; l `0 g9 W beckon our lasting attention- K8 y/ I& H4 Y- [ e
We will gently leave this life
' I7 n$ j2 O( u+ G" ]5 Y! b6 X t With the knowledge that
5 R4 |$ m$ ^/ i9 @" u because of that one pebble & a# G4 ]% x3 I1 L3 C
The world will never be the same.0 c2 x; ?8 i2 v* B1 W
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And then we have heaven …9 Z l, g N" v R, V: I
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Ross Rosenberg
4 T$ N; P, O7 Z 8/18/03 |
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