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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.. G$ Y2 T- R$ X l4 Z
+ R" M- n! D2 g2 a- f2 {; ~- q Heaven
& F! b4 y7 y7 E The pebble is worn smooth # T, t* Q$ d3 {+ m
Made small over time
+ m4 |) k1 b2 M0 W- d5 u A product of a cataclysmic force of nature7 _5 G- C0 Z1 g) d8 Z! x( n1 P
A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock" n- m) P# M/ L( }
An accidental offspring of a boulder $ m0 L; X! j9 W0 R3 k* {* u
But just a very small stone. ' O# R4 c( [! w3 d/ U1 j
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The pebble's place in our world - i/ j) j& ?2 p1 H C
Is neither understood nor appreciated
% n- k4 l5 j# t) U But when thrown into a glassy calm pond
& p: P1 A1 F, H5 d+ A" r Its insignificance is transformed
, I% v/ F6 g4 @+ s; E: B7 u Its meaning and purpose is unleashed.9 G5 K2 w2 g0 @) c# Q
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The instant the pebble kisses the pond
/ @! A$ A6 {! f: @ Its signature of concentric ripples
% Y$ M4 [7 E6 R( b# A/ {. s Spiral outwards
4 n' Z* f# \& o# T* r7 ] Moving far beyond itself.6 z& W$ _8 d! j8 x3 l- J) B5 V
Gently affecting everything in its wake
& o: H/ \* A7 C( _# F Forever altering the smooth placid surface.
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The pebble creates its worth and meaning
% N) y4 {5 R7 E' D By unleashing its unimagined power? , j0 B; ^; a3 z! N7 N V
Into a dueling force of action and reaction! k: n# j$ r' E( i5 a+ u
Creating karmic energy
N6 ~1 n+ {$ ~ Producing lasting and fluid impressions.3 p; Z% D, u: t2 z: {8 e; T* m
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Aren't we all pebbles?
W5 q6 U2 }( `; G/ o7 c$ ` Feeling small and insignificant
4 u" j" x( {& j8 y, w- Y But ultimately recognizing 6 J' R* L/ Y" H! K5 J
That who we are meant to be
5 N' f) U" y2 e/ a+ X7 T4 T Can never be measured in isolation
- I' H' C1 r# b* P0 p! }; g on a path into ourselves.
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It is true then:
0 u: o; y' s1 m7 g- y$ A Our everlasting future 7 |3 b7 ^# H, L& X, }3 l
Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles" [- H% p% p7 Y: }
Into the pond of life9 g' a! D, {% h. E
Creating ripples
% B5 K. m! z# ~ that leave unique mark on our world 9 }' u, J, l: Q- ~4 o7 F
Not because of thoughts
/ @3 @6 E; I0 A$ i not because of well meaning plans. B% c/ O2 p" G" F; J
But because of actions.
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' }8 [8 N3 q4 u- J& L: K Our life's prayers our answered; o8 M* P, p$ B; m) E
Because even the smallest pebble
3 }* i2 N- Y) b' l- W1 N) o2 a8 _ No matter how seemingly insignificant- k$ o7 w) v+ h+ O
Changes the course of the lives
( `# q( g1 J c$ N5 ~" _1 k. _ Of those we touch.?
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And when the icy winds of death! O$ e- {5 J) l/ J" A( N4 x
beckon our lasting attention4 p0 h, W: S; x$ G" O, p
We will gently leave this life . y" W1 j! P7 {! n; f9 \. w6 _
With the knowledge that
! J# t, ~- S; t( `8 P4 A because of that one pebble
" ~: }1 O. b% h The world will never be the same.
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7 Q+ Y' \, z' M And then we have heaven …
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4 k% p8 Y+ c8 e" ^4 c Ross Rosenberg! a; ]1 W1 L" x6 S; F7 o6 v
8/18/03 |
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发表于 2010-3-12 06:36
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