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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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& t* n( g3 t, Z4 U; D6 m; S Heaven
, K; e' p$ U: \2 X The pebble is worn smooth 6 n1 n) }* K+ Y1 D6 W
Made small over time9 y0 c& m2 Z1 v: n* X
A product of a cataclysmic force of nature
# I% j* |( o0 j2 ^0 f0 Q A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock
% O6 @3 R; ]! B- \* n7 @" S An accidental offspring of a boulder
, `! [8 i) E# K' S: S But just a very small stone.
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The pebble's place in our world 2 l: {' o8 p I
Is neither understood nor appreciated1 f2 [+ A2 f+ C, y6 o
But when thrown into a glassy calm pond - M' E. ^( q" a
Its insignificance is transformed2 M4 K6 T S# f- ^
Its meaning and purpose is unleashed.' Y b" J- h8 Q: T5 j
3 ~+ v+ w5 i2 n" \6 w The instant the pebble kisses the pond. ^# g& V$ F8 N6 G" V9 A# E
Its signature of concentric ripples + y" Y* U2 l! T
Spiral outwards
/ |8 X$ f F3 v* S _6 K7 x Moving far beyond itself.# I' l6 t! f% ]9 o
Gently affecting everything in its wake
1 d0 m) s" j8 Z8 N) ^8 | Forever altering the smooth placid surface.
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The pebble creates its worth and meaning
[; a- j v2 y+ _1 F. R3 { By unleashing its unimagined power? & p7 H% I4 X; y+ G& U7 F: g
Into a dueling force of action and reaction
[+ v/ i9 D R, N; r8 c8 S8 g Creating karmic energy
; _3 K7 ^( w2 ~- c Producing lasting and fluid impressions.7 n! F: z K0 f( n# C; A6 D
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Aren't we all pebbles?9 a% p2 Q; b& \& S3 S4 j* I) k
Feeling small and insignificant
4 |' y& V; r3 `1 @ But ultimately recognizing ! L; ]2 e, o* M) ^
That who we are meant to be
, a+ ?0 o; W% M6 e+ [ Can never be measured in isolation
5 J0 ^: g9 {/ p& Z4 C on a path into ourselves.
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, {) @9 g P0 h9 [& C, J It is true then:$ r0 N9 W2 t; c9 e2 m
Our everlasting future . K i9 ~! y% V& i7 W8 c
Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles- G7 |: o; Y! A
Into the pond of life0 v7 u' T; T! `0 g
Creating ripples % H u0 A5 `) \' U) s1 P
that leave unique mark on our world
! H% H' E y* h/ a Not because of thoughts 4 w! J- V' a- |% ~& V( T
not because of well meaning plans! A7 D1 \: b: o& K1 g5 y
But because of actions.
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: f N- j8 c! z+ Q' F' \ Our life's prayers our answered- A: ?! L% a- P7 x. m
Because even the smallest pebble " d* n. ]1 b% \& p
No matter how seemingly insignificant: k& X A% Z" U
Changes the course of the lives; D F* ~% a3 J: F: v0 ^2 h
Of those we touch.? ; n7 m9 g3 j$ }* g0 d" o* K( ?
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And when the icy winds of death1 E2 [. z8 f0 i5 p5 ~
beckon our lasting attention
& L- l. }% g; E4 E We will gently leave this life 3 ^5 {* n+ |- `7 J) |" N! ?1 Y
With the knowledge that 1 N; K+ h. t+ b5 [ c% I! L
because of that one pebble
- a) a' n1 L1 C/ ?/ ]" g The world will never be the same.
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And then we have heaven …: t8 D" Y( J7 }( D* e6 {
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Ross Rosenberg
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发表于 2010-3-12 06:36
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