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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. , p y- A( J" e; j( U
" F/ ~' Q" \, d" }+ w& J, z& Z; b: Z 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.% Q/ v9 z: d& P# B
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Heaven
1 a! ^7 ]0 N% ? ?* f' o- i$ w The pebble is worn smooth
4 ?1 j2 Y; z j+ \. }; M Made small over time1 V- H' a/ g6 t
A product of a cataclysmic force of nature, j9 Y# g# N+ v' w
A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock
: N3 n* L- B( V5 }6 H& L An accidental offspring of a boulder $ c6 n/ E: R$ p( |, x
But just a very small stone. ! e. G3 K% S X% @0 o
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The pebble's place in our world
7 E4 p. Y6 C' O& N- s" x Is neither understood nor appreciated0 t3 p9 M; @1 t% m9 j
But when thrown into a glassy calm pond 5 Y5 Z: ?( [; J
Its insignificance is transformed
$ g( C4 e8 S4 ` Its meaning and purpose is unleashed.
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The instant the pebble kisses the pond
7 Y- Z) F( Y5 m" V0 R& D Its signature of concentric ripples
+ p" } ]( `; _ Spiral outwards
. I: L" w" f z* M8 R( |! U% }/ d Moving far beyond itself.
5 s; F& p* G! d, ? Gently affecting everything in its wake. B8 b8 j$ J% X5 T) U
Forever altering the smooth placid surface.4 Y# l0 t# D! l! H( n
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The pebble creates its worth and meaning , p4 |2 h/ l. Y" N* U. f( ` A, V
By unleashing its unimagined power? $ Z$ V5 \& L" B0 i, d0 f& P
Into a dueling force of action and reaction& y% X9 n) S& X, E8 l
Creating karmic energy
1 T1 V% W( C0 @7 l4 Q( B Producing lasting and fluid impressions.' B' c+ ?( o' r
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Aren't we all pebbles?
% }# {- L1 w" G2 r. [& e* S/ ^, e Feeling small and insignificant
0 q2 s, F2 ~' {( S8 ~; Q But ultimately recognizing
4 Q, [& I' v' u6 [0 Z That who we are meant to be+ h% Z% I8 e n9 C5 P8 ]) H
Can never be measured in isolation
" Y9 U" Y0 u: \- j& t# ~0 f' [ on a path into ourselves.
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4 N: \+ c9 D# |- ?: ?% o It is true then:. }! L# m4 P: E4 C
Our everlasting future 7 B& r: x; R0 b; i, V
Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles. ] L. A3 ]- p# N* a
Into the pond of life, }2 }7 k8 b0 s8 I$ @
Creating ripples ; S2 Z' c3 T. L) L9 Y, k5 n! T
that leave unique mark on our world
) O! V6 G9 Z' [8 `, \ Not because of thoughts
% v! o/ z T# R* b/ s% M8 V5 g not because of well meaning plans
+ `, E+ R: g) f+ J1 P. A But because of actions.
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Our life's prayers our answered% L0 e! t( t1 G' I/ p
Because even the smallest pebble ( o$ l' @2 }; b' r, d
No matter how seemingly insignificant$ Q6 ~* T+ ^6 i3 I. }$ e; P7 p
Changes the course of the lives
0 M! O# x+ H- t: P/ _' X; T Of those we touch.? 1 M, T( K- x7 I* o
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And when the icy winds of death. n1 S# u) J }1 `8 j
beckon our lasting attention1 A, D+ I' S, H6 n+ P6 Z
We will gently leave this life
- K4 g9 K, V7 e; E With the knowledge that
" t9 D1 W1 m5 s' b8 H* _ because of that one pebble 8 q5 t$ b) N; D C4 u8 ]
The world will never be the same.4 ~0 A9 V) S4 F
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And then we have heaven …0 }+ P* U6 ]9 F2 b9 ?; d% s
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Ross Rosenberg! k: }' i# r, U7 D: n$ u
8/18/03 |
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发表于 2010-3-12 06:36
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