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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. ' o9 W1 [' _5 _; ]( z6 E
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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.! l) ?; P2 j4 {+ c. b) K$ c
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Heaven1 S( _+ ~2 ^3 |9 f7 Z+ F
The pebble is worn smooth & Q$ A& N5 i* l0 b
Made small over time
+ v" I' ^ F0 ]/ A1 L4 a! k) D A product of a cataclysmic force of nature, B) H8 c1 [2 Y' u# |# h3 K
A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock
e# d. e6 _& ~) t' U. ? An accidental offspring of a boulder $ ]- `% c6 U1 U& q$ w
But just a very small stone. 7 @! Z2 p0 w. y8 g. K; u1 y
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The pebble's place in our world & S* r2 J9 M+ ]7 ^2 G2 x7 ?- x
Is neither understood nor appreciated8 T B$ M7 f8 Y, T% s, m
But when thrown into a glassy calm pond 9 G/ n! y& I \2 r7 K7 r8 X& O
Its insignificance is transformed
3 D: T( ]) z4 O. j Its meaning and purpose is unleashed.
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% }" N" k' ^7 D6 s. s# t The instant the pebble kisses the pond
6 W! Y$ G0 p4 g Its signature of concentric ripples ! g+ x$ }+ n9 x; |2 `6 d
Spiral outwards
3 ]" k; i2 ?& s$ \; H. _" @ Moving far beyond itself.! w+ G3 Z9 F( L1 ?1 k" V) H
Gently affecting everything in its wake
# K" a& x- ]. j5 l5 r W8 c1 ` Forever altering the smooth placid surface.. ~/ R$ S" V2 T0 ~; X
' k1 P, P# P# b The pebble creates its worth and meaning / G$ T; v; v6 M7 M3 ^2 ^
By unleashing its unimagined power?
9 o: V- `" i: m; v% q Into a dueling force of action and reaction
& e$ `" P( {% A) E! [! ^3 q$ h Creating karmic energy
. m( z) B5 O5 j, s Producing lasting and fluid impressions.
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Aren't we all pebbles?+ z& @$ i1 v, E+ [3 m. n* {
Feeling small and insignificant
7 P/ y; @4 y, w( X, Z But ultimately recognizing / u! e4 j: _) W4 V" O& C; U2 r
That who we are meant to be
+ x! R# L+ S3 ]- [( d8 [+ V* M Can never be measured in isolation
2 v" d$ D# @5 F7 l7 P on a path into ourselves.4 l7 u/ [4 f) V/ Y6 x1 g
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It is true then:$ b, r$ C4 J( a g" f5 B6 F
Our everlasting future : `3 u1 t: e" s- `! z
Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles+ f# y: d( H" z2 x
Into the pond of life
( W x/ ?+ |: K% | Creating ripples , t5 }! B+ l. D. C
that leave unique mark on our world " z: H1 f0 E) V
Not because of thoughts ' k; i [: z ~5 Q% X6 z( ]
not because of well meaning plans: M! k9 Q) r$ P
But because of actions. ! s6 s+ [: k' ?; I
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Our life's prayers our answered
6 Q6 z9 D& K3 B( X. D: {6 c. h8 [3 K Because even the smallest pebble
3 Q. C- x ^1 o$ a8 R% z+ B/ }3 @ No matter how seemingly insignificant
* ~* t0 V( z1 N/ N# s1 H f Changes the course of the lives3 S2 L2 |# u5 Z
Of those we touch.?
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And when the icy winds of death6 P# X0 l! x9 Q! ~
beckon our lasting attention
* [* t& ]3 S2 {6 Q b. o We will gently leave this life
) h/ y1 t) ^# s' S7 O9 T With the knowledge that 6 H8 I3 _0 B* Z
because of that one pebble
6 g0 i4 y% F: ~. d" l The world will never be the same.
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And then we have heaven …' H8 \. r+ c9 r, r7 m
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Ross Rosenberg
" ]- E$ U [9 }8 `1 D9 M; }! M 8/18/03 |
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发表于 2010-3-12 06:36
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