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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. ; |/ @1 U3 A+ w1 w* A
( G& e1 H* a. P 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.1 b: _5 S4 q) T( g, U1 y0 ~
. t% F ~# h/ G+ O- W* W; i# ^ Heaven
( ?5 |% N( e2 _ k* `2 n* U The pebble is worn smooth 7 l" `) G& }7 V6 y7 q
Made small over time
' d# k7 m) n& h9 v0 T7 J9 |; ] A product of a cataclysmic force of nature
$ l. U0 I! j* R+ a A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock. F% t6 l; p9 c
An accidental offspring of a boulder 8 S) T" u9 x, i! C
But just a very small stone. $ Z6 O. f- }& H% J7 Q- O4 e: R
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The pebble's place in our world
( C. W( G4 w8 ~ Is neither understood nor appreciated
/ i. o- O* M- E) u) ? But when thrown into a glassy calm pond
" Y. c: p; Z: S( K1 x: z$ D7 c& u Its insignificance is transformed
. ~& r* a1 d3 E* P* u0 j Its meaning and purpose is unleashed.
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1 }- E8 d4 Y6 u3 q The instant the pebble kisses the pond3 V( M) R, M) [" d* J+ t! n( P
Its signature of concentric ripples # h- Q' h, P2 w5 w
Spiral outwards ( ?& G) m3 q, L* ?
Moving far beyond itself.9 \" K: {( v! R& M2 b- L) X
Gently affecting everything in its wake; i2 W0 g/ Q; A- V( }/ Y
Forever altering the smooth placid surface.9 n8 P, I" n) M e
3 S1 H; \7 V, h) R5 K
The pebble creates its worth and meaning 2 `2 ]2 X9 L6 G% V( |7 T6 J
By unleashing its unimagined power? % j! t1 h& v0 K) p/ Y
Into a dueling force of action and reaction( J3 O$ z7 T) X4 u f2 `" Y( N
Creating karmic energy
# n- e0 G( r/ T1 f" c# p Producing lasting and fluid impressions.& ~# a# k9 t& b9 i
9 K2 z+ L1 C+ V$ z. F" k3 q. P Aren't we all pebbles?
7 W+ L1 f9 m* V/ K$ o# l" y Feeling small and insignificant2 V+ l' ?3 y) [' n
But ultimately recognizing 8 Z$ ~& V- Z2 K6 i
That who we are meant to be! ]* m5 \2 |0 O @
Can never be measured in isolation% A2 i8 @" Q3 ]. H* X
on a path into ourselves.+ U! u+ _1 J' A+ I
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It is true then:
/ ^4 r! o1 z- y( a G" F/ T) s$ G Our everlasting future
4 e8 N3 Q/ ^# j; E Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles0 w" v+ D+ W. f3 |8 b: b
Into the pond of life
2 V) c+ V' h4 Y9 F Creating ripples 7 p& v$ y. Z b2 [
that leave unique mark on our world
3 ?( x4 Y8 u4 T1 I, j0 ?: | Not because of thoughts . B( F2 ? l9 a1 l, D7 o3 w
not because of well meaning plans2 y! u7 h; ^, J# _, s8 h
But because of actions. ) v" e: X# H$ y1 N9 _; m1 B$ o
; M3 k9 t8 _2 M Our life's prayers our answered! ?+ x; E4 }) g3 t! e/ A+ \1 |4 q
Because even the smallest pebble O2 O/ }' N6 C- A) V: n
No matter how seemingly insignificant
6 }) G0 R% M W5 r9 x Changes the course of the lives. w) V2 \+ v8 T# {3 {
Of those we touch.? , A, |- h& F9 G% U) F
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And when the icy winds of death) l% ~& U( r U' ~; E
beckon our lasting attention
4 J6 X& g2 A g+ \0 P We will gently leave this life
' L* s6 K. j) s& I4 s- F& G' H With the knowledge that 5 y6 O1 |7 L6 V3 A. E9 G
because of that one pebble
6 e2 ?! N s0 ? The world will never be the same.
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And then we have heaven …+ F8 ?3 @2 U0 y
( K" H6 `+ s* n# X Ross Rosenberg7 q* D' g, |5 P6 W& ~
8/18/03 |
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发表于 2010-3-12 06:36
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