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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. ( T3 r' n% j5 H) Y
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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.3 Y1 @! m( A; G1 d7 \% a
; m, m) m) H" \3 D" \) e Heaven
5 m% n6 y. O) L1 A0 S! }0 o- n The pebble is worn smooth * a2 Q( ]! k# [ }9 G; M" D
Made small over time2 A9 ~" s7 O2 n+ |! w
A product of a cataclysmic force of nature
, D) \* A7 P# t" k, H A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock
' {2 I( w3 j% H" w! J0 w0 [ An accidental offspring of a boulder
6 I# h; |5 k1 S. j; A But just a very small stone.
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The pebble's place in our world 7 P, m, H# R2 \& J, b* ], s
Is neither understood nor appreciated9 T, H) H7 u- ^- k1 k; W4 e
But when thrown into a glassy calm pond 2 _- c c6 I7 \: @! I% ?; \
Its insignificance is transformed. `* N4 R2 J }
Its meaning and purpose is unleashed.
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The instant the pebble kisses the pond+ R7 G% S$ q; F! v m
Its signature of concentric ripples
% }, ~1 ?" U w2 q* m8 o0 @ Spiral outwards
) P3 q6 v5 C7 ~, R Moving far beyond itself.( S1 b* H7 r" v4 h! Q9 O. C
Gently affecting everything in its wake( A a# d/ o8 g& V8 x, ~$ M
Forever altering the smooth placid surface.5 w9 Z1 h' H( i4 W7 h$ n) M2 r. F
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The pebble creates its worth and meaning : E! a; C1 @) c! E" h( x
By unleashing its unimagined power?
2 \7 ^& c, A: \. r5 [5 z9 r% D v Into a dueling force of action and reaction
* P3 m2 D0 o9 ~" c3 @ Creating karmic energy4 T* b: M) V, n7 r* B
Producing lasting and fluid impressions.5 B4 l8 o# ~7 }+ K
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Aren't we all pebbles?+ i# A! J2 j5 f. g+ s, K8 O7 y! s
Feeling small and insignificant
1 `. G+ N. k Y) n: W0 v But ultimately recognizing " O! x+ B4 c: A+ M8 |( v; v
That who we are meant to be
1 i1 T* Q! R6 ~/ O: p& c% b; W8 Z Can never be measured in isolation
/ M. f% W7 i) M3 k8 P! D4 o2 { on a path into ourselves.
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1 U9 v# Q8 j" a" A) j0 m8 I It is true then:% S1 W% v: e5 a
Our everlasting future
0 y4 I! f: A) ~ Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles
" W% ^% {, B% T2 D, k; J0 W2 t6 a# z Into the pond of life1 J9 R5 i) N) q1 P1 C! X
Creating ripples
( F. P G9 Z& w" f9 P that leave unique mark on our world 8 [9 o4 `$ N5 d
Not because of thoughts % I' u$ s w3 {1 ^
not because of well meaning plans. X& x7 V& t) a" j
But because of actions. ) Q8 D* X/ l3 W0 F$ m, T
. z8 A2 L4 M" S/ J+ A) e Our life's prayers our answered
- f, X$ O$ I) z8 A, o9 Z+ B/ u Because even the smallest pebble , `- L7 e6 R7 z @% Q: g
No matter how seemingly insignificant- U( F! c" j$ S. U
Changes the course of the lives4 X; q, \, @1 P2 T1 B
Of those we touch.?
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3 w1 h1 U- @6 a$ {! k8 H' ~ And when the icy winds of death+ u$ C$ Q, h1 o9 A% W* o' O
beckon our lasting attention
P$ A! g9 s1 R2 Y We will gently leave this life 6 {; j1 ]2 t# j2 q
With the knowledge that % F" u! o& p3 A
because of that one pebble & U/ Z- w2 l7 a" w0 y! A
The world will never be the same.
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And then we have heaven …2 \% t8 R5 s" f8 c
% y" a) ^, C8 D; p. T0 U Ross Rosenberg
/ y3 f& T0 `. u& L 8/18/03 |
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