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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. ; E* S, j9 a- M
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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.. ]8 c* p; c; I4 _, C' Z
( P/ O" r: Q) ^ Heaven- B' R7 M: a2 B& Q5 s" s
The pebble is worn smooth ) S/ t/ P7 G6 {' \) `
Made small over time
* K/ n# [1 [6 M& T A product of a cataclysmic force of nature
+ w+ C( N2 q: x; q- v; l+ W A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock
) Z5 L5 u$ H+ F! f! [* d t An accidental offspring of a boulder 6 ?4 g" s3 s$ n
But just a very small stone. # J0 D( b' W& n' T3 e: H/ z
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The pebble's place in our world
: ?. W- \ W9 s, p7 X/ d6 C z Is neither understood nor appreciated6 I6 |. J$ ^' P& t/ M3 t3 J
But when thrown into a glassy calm pond # @3 o: P @% D9 _0 b+ X
Its insignificance is transformed
. R3 d+ @- I; ^ Its meaning and purpose is unleashed.1 s* D' u. t4 I5 ]4 b
1 H7 i# L. T; ~) V/ V7 k! K The instant the pebble kisses the pond
8 W% ~& c* e3 W6 ? K Its signature of concentric ripples 0 e( F0 U2 ^, b% b
Spiral outwards ) d0 \* G. A7 ]: Y
Moving far beyond itself.
+ n1 @6 N% }1 \- P. N5 P t Gently affecting everything in its wake
& E4 I6 M8 p5 T; @; b: @ Forever altering the smooth placid surface.
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The pebble creates its worth and meaning 5 ^. Z) e" T9 e/ ^
By unleashing its unimagined power? ' K6 ^% J2 ?0 j5 M; e5 p7 X9 E( c
Into a dueling force of action and reaction
4 E M7 w8 Q# t. q! j Creating karmic energy) q+ V7 j# U! o |& z+ ^
Producing lasting and fluid impressions.
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Aren't we all pebbles?
1 @% A C1 v3 ^ Feeling small and insignificant9 n+ b% Z+ l6 l( z4 Z" z1 F
But ultimately recognizing 9 |3 h; R3 I% Z! H4 Z7 ?
That who we are meant to be7 Z9 b' d5 b6 j. Q
Can never be measured in isolation. F+ w4 L1 h( Y1 q# F {$ Z5 M( i n
on a path into ourselves.
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It is true then:$ x! ?) B, s; N: z
Our everlasting future 7 K# T) ]7 B# Q! Y6 v3 o
Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles
- S: U x' h* G: ~ Into the pond of life# w# }4 Z- y1 D: x! K G8 u. T# O
Creating ripples
4 S7 z% u% G9 h# r7 S' S) Z6 Z that leave unique mark on our world $ E: G" P6 Y. e* [
Not because of thoughts 2 s) |* Z) B( X% y; |' J* I$ ~& n: b/ Q
not because of well meaning plans; I# v8 @& @1 a# V* q$ v* U
But because of actions. 0 N, Q0 d- G6 R* M: T
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Our life's prayers our answered
& w% W* @$ t+ z1 }/ D3 X1 t Because even the smallest pebble
7 k3 I/ |; H$ O( Y, P No matter how seemingly insignificant3 f5 i2 {; ]2 J# l
Changes the course of the lives2 R# {% @6 }9 y
Of those we touch.? E! u7 M, j8 t3 V% y
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And when the icy winds of death
% W& ?( r) E: |6 q: | beckon our lasting attention8 \) ?0 I4 N( k' L
We will gently leave this life 1 a. K0 x/ j( E: y9 w
With the knowledge that ; a% @9 h, S% _: Q9 D4 \
because of that one pebble 8 X5 i& } V. P* y" @3 L
The world will never be the same.4 h9 F! g9 X/ u3 @
) M& g+ ]0 D/ K( G2 I6 w. A And then we have heaven …* e, |) b3 J/ r
2 _) }8 t% j$ x9 C/ X" H' K+ V* F
Ross Rosenberg
( e( K3 o( w, I* P: }& J' M 8/18/03 |
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发表于 2010-3-12 06:36
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