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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.
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' q# @6 J. @6 ^# L3 ]8 q 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.
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Heaven
# t0 u3 e2 ~2 J3 O. b0 y The pebble is worn smooth
0 }* d9 W/ K/ ~# U' e. r Made small over time
( W, _4 l5 {$ W, H A product of a cataclysmic force of nature5 V" W1 e" a$ \) d3 F2 n
A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock
" @8 {: k$ E6 T# m' R An accidental offspring of a boulder " \2 h9 u! @7 M5 S
But just a very small stone. 3 O$ w! y9 @9 f, A5 s- W
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The pebble's place in our world
/ v8 C* O! E0 q Is neither understood nor appreciated4 u4 s/ X% r, n2 i
But when thrown into a glassy calm pond ! O. K) ?) _ q( P& C! X
Its insignificance is transformed5 j9 H* d! E5 L* I, e( [- q* @
Its meaning and purpose is unleashed.
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% S/ W! N ~# B% L0 b5 } _% J( `3 t The instant the pebble kisses the pond; k# R. a; p: y+ W7 }
Its signature of concentric ripples
( O m" C5 a T6 R! B8 p" k Spiral outwards , s5 J7 ?) A6 l" f8 W
Moving far beyond itself.
/ ]- V6 w/ F0 S. m" a Gently affecting everything in its wake
' w; Q: c7 J! t# b+ Y! ] Forever altering the smooth placid surface.& d3 L- f7 e' V; L! Q7 m
5 a4 f7 u) M' X
The pebble creates its worth and meaning 8 ]5 X: C8 ` {% v" U
By unleashing its unimagined power?
7 p3 p! q* U* [' ~5 s9 [, U4 w: E Into a dueling force of action and reaction' Q x L# R* [9 Y
Creating karmic energy# f U# K6 E/ e5 `/ A9 e9 N
Producing lasting and fluid impressions.
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& ]+ q5 Z/ U( u+ K6 q- [" _4 D Aren't we all pebbles?7 y9 d6 r9 `* U
Feeling small and insignificant
# Z: Y5 m7 h9 S# a& q But ultimately recognizing 4 U+ z l- D0 U/ g9 D
That who we are meant to be
( `% s$ @# \& f) f3 @ Can never be measured in isolation
" m/ m- U+ n: s) z. X' y on a path into ourselves.
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It is true then:% N; D. S* r# x+ n+ c
Our everlasting future 4 L% k) [8 x& E- R9 [8 i
Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles
8 ?" b. q( {/ s. @' Z' ~! u) D Into the pond of life- X* |' j+ \: F* d3 H! ?" ?
Creating ripples
6 C7 z, T7 N2 F- a that leave unique mark on our world
" C" T; i }' x' V0 a) ]2 | s Not because of thoughts 4 B( }2 s$ {* y. w% I9 c0 ]8 D4 H
not because of well meaning plans" |* J; }. M$ ]2 y# F( Z
But because of actions. 1 N- A) y5 M2 t* c7 X: n/ u: x0 L
# B9 R) h8 O4 F; ?) i5 ^8 ]* q% V- W Our life's prayers our answered2 Q, \: ]. @, r, I* j2 b
Because even the smallest pebble # c3 O5 P) n+ v$ |$ Q2 K) w& `# i8 Z3 z
No matter how seemingly insignificant- h4 Z) @) Y. y) a* ?1 M
Changes the course of the lives# d% H, O) F9 z* v
Of those we touch.? + x0 S2 s( M$ X% C8 Q, C1 J- z* _% k
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And when the icy winds of death9 g: o7 h0 o. U+ R) u/ F6 w8 c
beckon our lasting attention' F: ^4 O2 f" O( Q
We will gently leave this life O$ L; s/ l% A: k, V- {
With the knowledge that
1 l1 ^! p; m7 _ d+ m because of that one pebble
3 C! w$ u P0 Z) ^ The world will never be the same.! [$ r7 C! M& n6 \* ?
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And then we have heaven … }' {. Y1 O: K+ [6 Z
3 c% O% }% D: H( v# @' r Ross Rosenberg
4 A" M; s0 g4 z* e2 T: `1 z3 T 8/18/03 |
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发表于 2010-3-12 06:36
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