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Heaven

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发表于 2010-3-12 06:36 | 显示全部楼层 |阅读模式
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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. . U! B! o# F8 T( d7 F" u

/ b! y% g1 U$ d* o3 s% T. Q" s5 a5 E. i 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.
, B, k( [' A; g( r! G: F0 g) i
# D/ P, J9 |# u$ | Heaven# k& y4 ^, X. f: K
The pebble is worn smooth
  G1 W, V% K/ m0 D0 R# A- W Made small over time& k- L4 @& S, i! o, q
A product of a cataclysmic force of nature: t4 y" P' _& x8 i$ O  x
A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock
8 z3 W0 ^0 |0 Z. `5 B( y2 L An accidental offspring of a boulder * Q8 j" X  T6 i) \3 W1 h
But just a very small stone.
- Q1 \$ K7 G4 I$ y) Y  T $ g: m8 S) m& n, e, B# X
The pebble's place in our world 2 a5 X; D+ `' z
Is neither understood nor appreciated
: y# G+ {; P) e; q: S( j' K5 q But when thrown into a glassy calm pond
1 c" d& @. o9 O9 @  Y! G6 Q Its insignificance is transformed
$ T  s* k' |& Z+ F  L( \0 d Its meaning and purpose is unleashed.+ J) K& n- U7 U' p2 g, p2 ?
  L3 e! o7 A' E5 i% R$ s0 q! K! a
The instant the pebble kisses the pond, @. d8 E4 _+ e2 ?1 _' h7 _: \
Its signature of concentric ripples * g6 F& I6 J) ~
Spiral outwards
: L" R, N5 A9 Y- y( ?% }( R Moving far beyond itself.
: V# C# m! Q9 t( T1 f Gently affecting everything in its wake! U& ~. w* v; x. {
Forever altering the smooth placid surface.
- S0 K& H2 Z4 [' v 6 X+ d, p: Y4 ^5 o  t& [( f5 |
The pebble creates its worth and meaning $ P2 b) A5 _# H' W
By unleashing its unimagined power? ' r; F6 g3 D" b+ |8 N
Into a dueling force of action and reaction1 |) Z1 k( V9 \* z
Creating karmic energy) y, K! q- m+ r' `
Producing lasting and fluid impressions.7 A8 ]9 D9 Q6 h- w
0 T! P4 b9 A: U# Q* w6 ]5 I
Aren't we all pebbles?
1 x6 d" A' ^) D% Q$ _ Feeling small and insignificant
. [# F7 Q$ }! F& i: N( y+ z But ultimately recognizing
; ~0 Y6 @- N5 D" b% e- a. k That who we are meant to be- K  c6 C( r, c7 {/ B: q$ E+ e* j: q
Can never be measured in isolation( V* y4 K& ^3 C' e6 Y9 T
on a path into ourselves.8 V+ h3 H% F2 G) M8 _
1 C5 T7 F+ {' B4 O/ E' s
It is true then:! L* G( w7 m1 W; u8 Y; u
Our everlasting future
2 I: g% s" e* G1 O' M, w' S+ t% E Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles/ b0 O1 h; k; A
Into the pond of life+ f9 f( R# J9 i
Creating ripples
7 v0 ]1 `- D7 r that leave unique mark on our world & e# M' c9 t) T2 S. U5 g& c4 `- z. T3 s
Not because of thoughts
: s1 j3 u# N: N not because of well meaning plans4 t' L3 F/ J. x; z9 K
But because of actions.   k) k6 w3 ]: ]" Z8 }0 Y( y
; K: G$ L' O& V6 D6 _
Our life's prayers our answered  k( z" J4 p4 h0 l5 e
Because even the smallest pebble % Y8 \5 _$ I# b) T% M* h
No matter how seemingly insignificant, m0 g0 y: @8 }' G5 v1 _" f5 U6 Y
Changes the course of the lives
& i- M  F1 x; ?8 o6 H) |$ A Of those we touch.?
% M3 @1 P- ?+ |7 O* i
7 N, q* a0 v, W' f3 W% D And when the icy winds of death9 A) @. l0 J' B. e. j- i' B  f
beckon our lasting attention
" P0 v4 `' c/ h/ `, V6 | We will gently leave this life
9 b, t& A4 Z2 c& p! I With the knowledge that 9 I* Z8 ]% }5 |0 I: o
because of that one pebble ; K' V! s8 U' P7 C4 W! W$ B
The world will never be the same.
( D# w; \2 }, l# Z- }
( S' P; |4 l4 S' x7 v And then we have heaven …
3 |: {- K& X' y  Y. r8 x : }" h0 F5 w4 ^1 G$ N; y
Ross Rosenberg
# d' n% Z) t' Z( B6 v 8/18/03
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