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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. : v9 ~% E6 B, w+ g
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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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Heaven, E! x9 N }$ @& }% l8 U4 x
The pebble is worn smooth
+ }* |/ X6 i- T/ ^, X7 k( O Made small over time
& \* U8 q ~' a3 G; a- S( d A product of a cataclysmic force of nature% ?5 i- j$ u' B6 b5 \
A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock
- r/ h5 Z$ z' [2 m; d3 y& B An accidental offspring of a boulder
7 ^& M; W# {: ]2 x7 {2 @ But just a very small stone. 1 }! L9 _: Q" j5 Q* ~9 \6 h9 D5 T$ m
, F% h+ ]6 l1 ?' e The pebble's place in our world
0 P0 N3 }1 R" L& t4 P& v Is neither understood nor appreciated' M* X7 x5 ?. z! n" v
But when thrown into a glassy calm pond
. ~ S( W/ J9 Z+ t7 p @# K% O Its insignificance is transformed
6 s4 H: E) L- E; i% U4 ? Its meaning and purpose is unleashed.! R7 u% G' u! K7 ^
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The instant the pebble kisses the pond
- q; M* z2 k1 W3 \! `( o8 e, w Its signature of concentric ripples $ G" V) u# }6 c' q( J
Spiral outwards / L0 r% |, f$ G+ Y
Moving far beyond itself.$ J0 _/ f P: l) ?! H
Gently affecting everything in its wake0 f6 [/ N2 R" }! D& D+ Q$ y, f
Forever altering the smooth placid surface.+ c0 G+ X, m) T# b" v
* N& C; U2 f8 n" `3 k The pebble creates its worth and meaning 3 c1 p4 `6 V5 ~( H5 H" Q
By unleashing its unimagined power?
) Q) g/ U2 w( _9 H3 `$ s( S f Into a dueling force of action and reaction2 A. |: E& y6 t4 f t
Creating karmic energy- Q" Y& i9 J1 a. }/ Q
Producing lasting and fluid impressions.( U, h6 A" _5 X7 U7 [5 G
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Aren't we all pebbles?
# d* _! H7 ^) ~ `; n: a Feeling small and insignificant
' @- `, T& f1 b& J! b But ultimately recognizing , _; |- F4 j" P5 C1 q! N
That who we are meant to be
2 z4 U. V% a/ n7 x* n8 K Can never be measured in isolation
% K) n. q5 ~; ]1 e% f1 A: h) J on a path into ourselves.
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It is true then:1 J7 v8 B# _8 U$ k. v- ^& P; D Z1 V
Our everlasting future
8 x* t N0 a" Y# A) G& ` W Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles
& ?* N" s: o2 N* V Into the pond of life
: P' Z, }; l- ?, p- V Creating ripples
7 U; Z' ]" m2 `7 h) r* U h( ^ that leave unique mark on our world
. w- h1 n6 e/ a$ O0 C6 L: }( Q Not because of thoughts
- l: l- l# s8 m7 L/ m not because of well meaning plans
. H, R" x( r1 h* w- ~ But because of actions.
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Our life's prayers our answered
( ]" K. P; k3 g# }7 y Because even the smallest pebble 7 B/ _2 Y" t! Z9 I( L3 y
No matter how seemingly insignificant8 a4 x, A4 Z6 V4 G1 r
Changes the course of the lives- U" l; A9 D2 }$ K: o
Of those we touch.? 7 h" |$ W5 U( l* q
3 M( U7 R, B; W# b7 H/ q And when the icy winds of death- _7 f+ H% a4 ?8 v& F
beckon our lasting attention
7 {8 u9 w: U" k We will gently leave this life
3 D& P. W/ H! K With the knowledge that
' z( s/ a" B+ O3 Y! ` because of that one pebble
5 _5 c8 G1 ~- m3 ?5 C The world will never be the same.
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And then we have heaven …/ ~: m1 s- k8 u
6 F1 L- m; t" _ Ross Rosenberg$ G- J5 \' K ~2 h0 i6 p% |+ B
8/18/03 |
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