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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.
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Heaven* n1 V% l! C( \: p/ D. C# Z
The pebble is worn smooth 0 I9 N/ o! F2 q) t' [
Made small over time
/ o+ B/ a. m& d# H* j# D1 h5 w A product of a cataclysmic force of nature; N, i4 W) m2 l) K% i/ ~! G
A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock1 u7 ~5 G6 F D
An accidental offspring of a boulder
# N8 T9 L' D- @ But just a very small stone. 3 d: H' f: Y) D
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The pebble's place in our world
x ?- b5 T0 K! e$ Z) Z' A+ z0 l6 k Is neither understood nor appreciated
$ }) b2 Q' u$ ]3 y8 n+ n But when thrown into a glassy calm pond ! P0 k7 N4 E m4 `8 k9 q8 B
Its insignificance is transformed0 B* D, p5 `2 _4 _1 \: y
Its meaning and purpose is unleashed./ P1 J' J3 _& f/ `% f+ B2 Z
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The instant the pebble kisses the pond
' d x8 ]% _1 P& d Its signature of concentric ripples w0 M& s8 Z; b5 o; s
Spiral outwards
6 Z! b' s1 L' Q6 R% n! ]; `; B5 A Moving far beyond itself.8 O- e+ [. [* M) i5 E
Gently affecting everything in its wake
* [6 H0 W7 f3 N1 m, @ Forever altering the smooth placid surface.
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The pebble creates its worth and meaning 4 X3 `+ S9 k, O
By unleashing its unimagined power?
4 {) G$ P s7 O1 ?3 a Into a dueling force of action and reaction
4 R& T9 b: f. m( q1 F% T E8 G Creating karmic energy
, |2 P: C2 [: D$ }4 |! n* w Producing lasting and fluid impressions.8 Y+ x7 w- s9 u' Y/ h
8 L5 h! I+ I7 I9 G' v4 z8 s* U$ T Aren't we all pebbles?
" I& m! r5 S( d0 o9 z( O0 C Feeling small and insignificant
! R5 C j t8 Z0 c But ultimately recognizing e, e* i. H/ m" j. @9 R
That who we are meant to be
, I. m0 Z' k% G @ Can never be measured in isolation$ A% E$ y8 j4 y7 U
on a path into ourselves.
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3 n3 c {( c! X* t/ _ It is true then:
( Q% @5 l, M8 c& m' r8 m# D Our everlasting future : U( q- C* O( d0 H. T6 G
Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles
8 q' P5 ~% T7 v" A Into the pond of life* c& |. ~% ? f3 T b$ k2 n
Creating ripples ) u& Z- Q) s- m
that leave unique mark on our world ) u- \/ l5 u$ q. o
Not because of thoughts 7 E( P5 P0 L6 U. s' ?( U( w; }
not because of well meaning plans( g; G& A5 b4 S6 O, U$ B
But because of actions. 2 \" W/ e/ w& s
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Our life's prayers our answered
' D* {/ V4 y* {; z4 n Because even the smallest pebble
6 a! O4 L4 {5 M3 m. V8 P No matter how seemingly insignificant! T3 O2 y) h4 R/ t- D; ~
Changes the course of the lives$ }1 V& o# W5 e
Of those we touch.? 7 q1 Y1 C& a# h3 b& K- p% r; V
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And when the icy winds of death# W4 Y3 R* y6 k" q$ R3 m
beckon our lasting attention# X% Z) A& m' B, j
We will gently leave this life 1 G2 F7 y3 @, | F
With the knowledge that
* g8 V8 j/ H+ a( |! @ because of that one pebble
8 E. [! `3 ?2 q0 l4 D8 a The world will never be the same.
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And then we have heaven …% F P( v4 {: q( T; @1 K
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Ross Rosenberg' @) C1 N( j+ x5 y+ Z+ ^- t
8/18/03 |
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发表于 2010-3-12 06:36
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