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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.5 P% Q9 B- i z& Y
" X% C- j( f) w( O Heaven, ^5 | r3 i o' M8 v- U
The pebble is worn smooth
3 W6 M* a; I( z3 ~: `% B Made small over time4 Y( i! z- _3 B7 ^0 M1 B6 u
A product of a cataclysmic force of nature
: D+ ]" B9 ?- j. T4 i, U A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock' C. q" G* }5 ~
An accidental offspring of a boulder 7 X4 |, l0 a7 h5 x. Z
But just a very small stone. - i. O9 m+ I& I: w( d+ R( u8 {9 t( w
! O3 C$ I* V% e/ [+ G7 u The pebble's place in our world
4 M6 T" o6 V. h+ b Is neither understood nor appreciated
; {; L6 T5 ^9 T: j d But when thrown into a glassy calm pond
; U6 A9 M+ W9 x' r Its insignificance is transformed4 X/ h a1 d. N2 W9 W% f
Its meaning and purpose is unleashed.: }2 {0 T6 {$ n8 T) r0 u
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The instant the pebble kisses the pond
9 N1 C! p" g" X+ z4 i/ R Its signature of concentric ripples $ B7 P# g. l H$ ^# n
Spiral outwards 0 q% k$ o$ @+ Q+ U% m8 h
Moving far beyond itself.$ Z5 u9 H1 E( z
Gently affecting everything in its wake
* W- w& f+ G! i& k5 w6 v( N/ n Forever altering the smooth placid surface.
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The pebble creates its worth and meaning
# }+ w& G* k; z6 R& B; E3 h2 ` By unleashing its unimagined power? & A- k& ?5 ^. [# @
Into a dueling force of action and reaction9 Y; i% d( F5 A t3 K
Creating karmic energy
9 D( l8 C* ^) m5 t/ K. |+ y Producing lasting and fluid impressions.) i3 e9 d& w+ f) ^6 w, R
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Aren't we all pebbles?
3 ]5 Q4 w! W s$ R1 w Feeling small and insignificant4 |/ _. Q8 T/ i- `( n, F
But ultimately recognizing 5 N9 ]- `+ m" j6 u0 v
That who we are meant to be
% }9 u- J, [, r! ^. L. B Can never be measured in isolation1 a5 `: `! Y7 Z( Y2 k9 [
on a path into ourselves.
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It is true then:
1 l8 d) L5 h x& z* @) w) T. T Our everlasting future
& z. H* B! I9 v0 q Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles" T, h2 v: d; A4 O
Into the pond of life+ c0 h, `) P3 R% S3 p
Creating ripples V6 B' K9 N8 X4 C& L; G ~
that leave unique mark on our world ; a. [: s: v/ D3 |* D
Not because of thoughts 0 R; M% n9 a4 j" V* Z* X4 c
not because of well meaning plans0 O( t* o3 E X5 H+ O0 }
But because of actions.
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6 j( p' f% s" s. X/ E Our life's prayers our answered
; Q. R* W" C8 g3 j# P- F Because even the smallest pebble * g6 S/ y |6 `' W
No matter how seemingly insignificant. i1 y; n' }# o* E
Changes the course of the lives+ W: R* O; `4 R; e4 h
Of those we touch.? 8 d( u9 ]: M1 y7 }) B/ i. ~' `
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And when the icy winds of death
- s6 n! p# x, X2 |% [" v beckon our lasting attention
: ~" v( c6 g, c8 V+ t2 G We will gently leave this life
' u; U' g C5 E With the knowledge that - z+ D4 O& n) R% ~6 F, ?* s! `
because of that one pebble 2 u2 H2 m) h+ Y1 `2 h
The world will never be the same.
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And then we have heaven …5 l9 x, q! Z7 V9 Z7 s
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Ross Rosenberg; I2 o/ f1 W4 u7 j8 o1 R0 g
8/18/03 |
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发表于 2010-3-12 06:36
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