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Heaven

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发表于 2010-3-12 06:36 | 显示全部楼层 |阅读模式
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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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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.' c# Z) w/ l" d, R- Z
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Heaven) {/ B3 \8 b, ]# f: |9 k
The pebble is worn smooth 9 J# u! I+ A4 C1 z$ I" z
Made small over time; D% ?5 c7 a6 R  q" L
A product of a cataclysmic force of nature
9 X0 y+ }$ \' K, Y A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock# U. h* w1 l* |4 \
An accidental offspring of a boulder " S3 k4 e, K! A+ a
But just a very small stone. / z2 h/ U2 f4 D! B# _# ^, @' }
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The pebble's place in our world ' d$ ]! o/ w& g. V' u! ~- [- ~0 V
Is neither understood nor appreciated
2 z6 k3 B, M/ M: w. B But when thrown into a glassy calm pond
8 f9 t+ F7 h9 S0 j3 h! P Its insignificance is transformed
% i0 {2 k* ?" ~7 [9 f Its meaning and purpose is unleashed.5 U, H% S# X# d# G# Y

+ R2 q. V- @9 \7 p9 d The instant the pebble kisses the pond) e/ }0 E5 u) s1 k7 c0 S; B: B
Its signature of concentric ripples 4 C* B7 h! e& K& `$ _$ Y3 q
Spiral outwards ' Y3 u) i+ s; U, O1 [+ X% X3 q+ n
Moving far beyond itself.4 L( ~- ~3 Z4 @2 ~8 j4 S# F1 `
Gently affecting everything in its wake, I. ^+ \9 U7 }6 y+ Q, S; e$ \- R
Forever altering the smooth placid surface.
# O5 D# D8 Y- F: d ' |/ `# k( Y/ T1 l
The pebble creates its worth and meaning
' m0 r  r; n% ^; Q By unleashing its unimagined power? 3 R* ~* R' T+ ?8 g& B! I& X) ?6 C
Into a dueling force of action and reaction1 e0 l4 Q3 X% r: l+ K& o
Creating karmic energy" F  b: F8 s  ]( b+ ?
Producing lasting and fluid impressions./ r& {5 d4 m- \' m+ X5 F6 s) |
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Aren't we all pebbles?
5 ?6 J5 N0 @! p Feeling small and insignificant! d! E0 f0 M( T& q+ v
But ultimately recognizing
$ b0 s6 k% A7 A- a' K2 G# ~ That who we are meant to be0 q$ a! p$ }% k9 G6 d8 \* M' H
Can never be measured in isolation% Z) u5 g9 @( m) B+ Q/ L0 {
on a path into ourselves.' Z  X3 l; {& n1 A
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It is true then:% f+ u4 R' R" c2 U2 n+ U4 k; b  }
Our everlasting future 3 M# \, S( Q6 q9 C5 p1 n' I
Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles
4 \8 A' t; f7 {% H8 F( o Into the pond of life
% ]/ t' v$ u& }- f Creating ripples : L- g7 N6 Y* @4 u
that leave unique mark on our world
* _' W! S5 F+ I! i; y6 |% y' i0 v3 B Not because of thoughts
7 [. v1 m! J9 e9 F/ F% D not because of well meaning plans* q+ _+ V/ }. W( k
But because of actions.
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$ b8 ^; K, c# t$ p* a; o Our life's prayers our answered
) x9 Z. B) R' u- e  ?+ j Because even the smallest pebble
$ n  i' w) x0 f# N( }' u+ w* b No matter how seemingly insignificant( E/ x; |5 n) |/ t1 l+ c
Changes the course of the lives% b2 q# k. U( h9 r' C0 k# a
Of those we touch.?
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And when the icy winds of death7 h( U" c0 y) g! u- l
beckon our lasting attention# |; D! I2 j. V& L( x
We will gently leave this life ' H5 P) c' ^+ Y/ `
With the knowledge that
! k7 v, P1 N! ~  v/ u9 p& ^, U because of that one pebble
& I6 H+ X, m, s! F- g- f# u The world will never be the same.& i- ?" I" t* f: O. B7 D

! X+ Z! ~( \/ c6 s( O4 K' f8 p And then we have heaven …
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Ross Rosenberg
: F0 L. l7 I0 D4 a  Z 8/18/03
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