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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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2 |; E' d% a3 ]$ @9 H 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.8 z4 S$ I; ~/ ?1 V* u
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Heaven) L. s5 e4 y" l" O/ ?+ R
The pebble is worn smooth
: w9 _4 `6 R# {. t- g+ X) ^; C Made small over time
0 k3 ?: c6 d, L, d' | A product of a cataclysmic force of nature& D$ `0 h1 }( s: N% ]. S
A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock
/ h/ d9 R4 b9 y An accidental offspring of a boulder
% L( a+ } z' j1 {7 M% Y But just a very small stone. + M, u; B0 P7 D+ t+ Y! V/ Q
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The pebble's place in our world - a* @. S+ z6 Z% \
Is neither understood nor appreciated$ U- k+ T. [' [7 I8 y
But when thrown into a glassy calm pond ' M3 {- P, D4 c0 b
Its insignificance is transformed
- y$ ]+ C! E+ i: W Its meaning and purpose is unleashed.; B' a' e* a2 K
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The instant the pebble kisses the pond
+ W2 z3 O$ l$ m. Y Its signature of concentric ripples 8 r% ]. q( V" c! X9 D0 Y7 s
Spiral outwards , e+ |) x; ]4 P5 y" K3 N
Moving far beyond itself.+ ^3 X) i/ _: m/ f9 m) P
Gently affecting everything in its wake- l; c' k+ p4 L1 w8 z% f
Forever altering the smooth placid surface./ G9 K8 Q5 _4 |, t; w) b! Y
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The pebble creates its worth and meaning 0 R* j3 u+ }& ]$ O" p6 g
By unleashing its unimagined power? 3 r* \- a( ^, Z+ B1 Y
Into a dueling force of action and reaction
! k6 E, d3 P$ x1 t Creating karmic energy- n5 ?" H/ [8 b' {2 G7 q f7 b
Producing lasting and fluid impressions.
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D" h! {, A# S+ F- @- N" P Aren't we all pebbles?3 c" r5 E, p6 s1 P3 D
Feeling small and insignificant, \. ?: L# c7 Y$ ], g L
But ultimately recognizing & L: u* U3 s/ O" ] j
That who we are meant to be) \. c- ~7 D3 g a# D* {6 R
Can never be measured in isolation
# [/ L- P' k F, B* a" J6 ]2 } on a path into ourselves.# k4 M1 Z" H: p9 ?* L
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It is true then:8 B6 l$ m8 N. t v$ |0 j
Our everlasting future , ^/ r% A) M$ u
Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles. t( f3 s( Z/ r6 N% F0 s
Into the pond of life
8 Q8 k/ G: A$ L3 L Creating ripples : e, s$ j; o5 S- x8 s
that leave unique mark on our world
. k9 d0 d- h! t, ~; I8 R- s Not because of thoughts 4 M3 N8 e9 X3 }) f) l
not because of well meaning plans- M# z; @/ {/ W5 Q1 |$ m
But because of actions. & R" b$ W: H8 p- i7 [4 S4 A
6 `3 M# o- F6 D* w& H# t+ X Our life's prayers our answered: O7 H- P8 b6 P2 ^+ N* F
Because even the smallest pebble
: V8 h: f4 K0 U' a+ ~4 q No matter how seemingly insignificant* i9 ]* N8 [6 u
Changes the course of the lives( f( R% e, h* F1 r/ Z2 U, I
Of those we touch.?
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And when the icy winds of death0 O, h/ H% W$ c5 g# ] I
beckon our lasting attention
4 }5 [4 s. S8 I T We will gently leave this life . e% C2 M7 \( g1 F
With the knowledge that + H5 ?5 {3 s9 [2 }! G/ j6 E
because of that one pebble # v* t* e7 u8 s6 M2 O& C
The world will never be the same.# P/ m$ A4 @' ~) }% K% \; c9 s
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And then we have heaven …
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, L9 _& @6 Y' d9 y4 S$ M ] Ross Rosenberg
s Y$ i6 `5 r& X Q 8/18/03 |
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发表于 2010-3-12 06:36
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