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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" t" K# m% e2 I* y# k* z. q3 Y4 D
& K- d7 g; v. d3 L2 d6 r- g 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.0 e) P5 k' n/ N& [ ~5 A5 x# Y
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Heaven/ j! T1 r/ h1 _" c6 o
The pebble is worn smooth ) q- v) S7 b$ A( E3 V4 O
Made small over time. Z, I* Q- Q' z$ U( d
A product of a cataclysmic force of nature
# |; c# ~6 i) |4 `# F4 [1 O A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock( U2 Y- J+ I* d; P/ h
An accidental offspring of a boulder
1 s0 i A0 d9 q* l But just a very small stone.
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' [# } @8 k# _' W8 R. E; R The pebble's place in our world 8 ]8 n/ x# o, }
Is neither understood nor appreciated! V( y Y' r7 n( M
But when thrown into a glassy calm pond & F% H5 O ?1 ?3 m
Its insignificance is transformed# x/ N2 w, [, F0 f" D
Its meaning and purpose is unleashed.( F4 L$ z: D1 @5 B" F; | Y
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The instant the pebble kisses the pond( n* i8 T/ Q- ?3 \
Its signature of concentric ripples
, p5 q* V1 d0 }) E1 F8 k Spiral outwards . p. L7 P7 c- v' D/ Y4 ?
Moving far beyond itself.5 v" @! T; j' ]9 t8 m( l$ c. b
Gently affecting everything in its wake
# x* d( ^" ]* c, I1 G; J Forever altering the smooth placid surface.
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/ ~3 w: m# r6 X4 `- s, E The pebble creates its worth and meaning 6 z, b# T8 j- @
By unleashing its unimagined power?
; i6 T1 H: S4 b1 ]& u Into a dueling force of action and reaction4 M! x7 H6 Q" q. ]6 |6 R
Creating karmic energy
: h: O4 Q$ k! {) L Producing lasting and fluid impressions.
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i5 Z. X6 Q5 [* u Aren't we all pebbles?! z$ F% ^ Y1 r0 R9 \" R j
Feeling small and insignificant8 e! N9 {0 p+ Q- ^
But ultimately recognizing 3 T4 F1 W2 r6 Z+ r: j' x
That who we are meant to be
$ x/ g; s7 @/ T3 V k/ X: d$ h* i Can never be measured in isolation0 u& W3 C$ c- c* f5 @/ C
on a path into ourselves.
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It is true then:/ m' R5 D0 z9 T" [* Q( Z! F& |
Our everlasting future " Y4 |; \8 E& X2 ]4 ]- y: S9 A! R
Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles
8 m; L; m$ I3 M- J& e* q8 E Into the pond of life4 Y9 n3 i3 K& ^9 \5 s, j3 l
Creating ripples - B! @+ h' G2 X5 k4 }
that leave unique mark on our world 8 u: D, B' m) {, U& w" i) g
Not because of thoughts 8 h3 D! L6 P0 N2 A5 j$ {7 a
not because of well meaning plans8 v& T+ N- B- y: x- Y$ U4 h
But because of actions. ) L8 C& ~1 q/ m7 H3 ^+ Q& m
, t- {3 Q9 N4 I* X& Z% G0 W" k Our life's prayers our answered
3 H% v8 ^ j" h& i) W/ G# I$ ? Because even the smallest pebble
2 E) f4 X8 R4 C& X- w* U# d No matter how seemingly insignificant( }% A, U5 B: f3 G1 j* L
Changes the course of the lives
$ p2 p) s# w) q' U+ E1 ^0 g! D Of those we touch.? / T) N; U. M* f( _0 w
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And when the icy winds of death
$ t! f& s4 M& _0 X beckon our lasting attention+ U: T7 {% f$ E7 i
We will gently leave this life
# v! ?; S# x: E- g; P& J8 H: a With the knowledge that ) M2 q# b9 M l/ i$ [2 R
because of that one pebble y' E9 G1 Q* _& q t
The world will never be the same.- f7 D4 m6 N2 a% B
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And then we have heaven …% |4 R+ N- o: F, i' G
e; M4 z1 _" d4 B w" v, e& M Ross Rosenberg2 t9 D* C8 [9 V6 O, q8 o/ k+ H
8/18/03 |
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发表于 2010-3-12 06:36
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