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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. ) `1 q: V9 d7 d" @1 n7 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.
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Heaven4 |' E$ Q& V- Y; Y `/ K
The pebble is worn smooth 3 l, Q" @( G' x# m- h6 H
Made small over time
' b( M) v; f. i& O5 _1 C) } A product of a cataclysmic force of nature* G3 N& r# D9 x$ Q
A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock
+ {! m! Z* p! T An accidental offspring of a boulder
+ G9 M5 Q) N* F But just a very small stone. l& X! m: Z) V/ T, R |
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The pebble's place in our world
' s6 ^* W( E3 q Is neither understood nor appreciated
, f- {$ }6 k, K7 [# i( X/ C But when thrown into a glassy calm pond
; V/ P p( \( D( Q1 t% |7 @ Its insignificance is transformed$ e$ H- o) X- w1 b
Its meaning and purpose is unleashed.4 a2 {4 c3 O/ _2 i' e
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The instant the pebble kisses the pond6 v+ ?* x8 J1 D2 }. n9 ~$ y5 \$ D
Its signature of concentric ripples + u! G8 _. m" }6 B5 _' q" |- S9 g% k# O
Spiral outwards
: j) N! l* A5 s0 _9 c8 B. } Moving far beyond itself.4 Q, }; h& T q
Gently affecting everything in its wake
+ G& b( e: [ `( a& ?; N Forever altering the smooth placid surface.
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The pebble creates its worth and meaning 2 E: a" [$ d: d* p W! C
By unleashing its unimagined power? ; k8 @' w- n7 r; C# z3 R
Into a dueling force of action and reaction
# p; l$ O5 v( u, P& f# \ Creating karmic energy3 l& y& l; r( ~: `5 M
Producing lasting and fluid impressions.
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% z1 n8 T9 P( i' O& } Aren't we all pebbles?
' Y, l z! G+ T0 _/ X" g% X/ ]+ M( M Feeling small and insignificant* d7 W G. x. @
But ultimately recognizing 6 n8 J3 p& ]1 C8 W
That who we are meant to be8 E" |5 L+ ]' e' ]
Can never be measured in isolation
7 i: C7 a/ w+ F0 j( f on a path into ourselves.
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It is true then:
" V- b6 ]- s& W4 z9 h7 J Our everlasting future % G" r3 Q6 H: P7 N$ N( e; X- X
Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles: H0 S& y+ B9 e& C9 S
Into the pond of life! @' [- ~& I! ~
Creating ripples 9 \% I' _. c* e7 `0 ?7 L4 \
that leave unique mark on our world 6 t+ l" W9 m8 y- {
Not because of thoughts
8 C( K: c- [3 ]- X. t- C not because of well meaning plans( n, N) e9 [- f4 d
But because of actions. * I0 S% i) J) L0 v& {
2 B* {' M1 B7 [ Our life's prayers our answered
2 j: O9 `' [1 y5 L Because even the smallest pebble 6 |7 C0 o; I" R3 K$ r
No matter how seemingly insignificant0 _5 \% r4 v9 I# l
Changes the course of the lives7 ^* ?$ K3 S% N; @9 n
Of those we touch.? ; X9 e" D- o( h( ]0 t* {
' y6 A6 Z( ~; h: _4 _2 {8 E; y And when the icy winds of death/ }' [" i% e! m2 J" Y3 z
beckon our lasting attention
2 e/ K, U$ `9 O+ w We will gently leave this life . B8 p$ }+ M2 @& G
With the knowledge that
& c! N( Y3 V* E5 v& x5 d because of that one pebble * h, r; H1 T: _1 b
The world will never be the same.+ ]- R* O, j) e, J: P& ]
/ `4 B4 z( j4 O; D' w* K f And then we have heaven …( Q' D: P9 Q0 E) A
, k F" c1 `* s1 g Ross Rosenberg( B& ~! I1 l* T- g5 R9 P- r
8/18/03 |
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发表于 2010-3-12 06:36
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