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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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1 Y. W/ w* O# M+ T$ S 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.7 @* Q: Z" n# a/ ?$ F7 o- n
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Heaven% [) z$ w. y! `) h
The pebble is worn smooth
: R7 o; h3 x8 t' {9 [' A5 D% ? Made small over time- c$ \' L: K: q
A product of a cataclysmic force of nature3 h6 k% m6 T9 t& K1 m. k$ \! s' d, V
A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock8 z* b/ P2 Q, \3 f2 }
An accidental offspring of a boulder
9 _/ V) O9 b+ M) J2 o But just a very small stone.
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The pebble's place in our world 7 f' @* b# _! [& m0 m' e
Is neither understood nor appreciated( b, [( p9 C0 C+ t* _$ R
But when thrown into a glassy calm pond 7 x5 m# O' ^2 N/ {! L' ~
Its insignificance is transformed
4 D" M8 u$ d/ ^5 F3 ^* b Its meaning and purpose is unleashed.1 g# [1 Z% i) Q* M# R" { a
0 L, v' @' T; ^ The instant the pebble kisses the pond0 @, \" X5 |) r& Q9 F9 l7 t, a
Its signature of concentric ripples : G4 d" ~# a5 |! e9 \
Spiral outwards ; b4 E( I, I0 W) V$ N. y2 Y
Moving far beyond itself.
0 H# u3 F# F5 u8 v$ r- y Gently affecting everything in its wake
O8 Y- E2 v' Y) ?1 J k/ n Forever altering the smooth placid surface.
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The pebble creates its worth and meaning
2 ~/ p8 M& ?* R9 m W" y: s# ^ By unleashing its unimagined power?
: P0 d: v+ b) m: c: d Into a dueling force of action and reaction7 T, S; a! r$ w9 d* F8 Z3 U
Creating karmic energy
+ x. r) {( ~0 O( M( _+ v Producing lasting and fluid impressions.
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1 s1 J# j% o k1 b; [' T Aren't we all pebbles?
+ `# F# Z4 s5 Z! T7 A, S" J4 K Feeling small and insignificant/ ^/ k3 X& d6 P) P
But ultimately recognizing ! H3 m- ~4 T1 y+ ~8 ^, D6 M
That who we are meant to be7 z) {9 N+ v& I/ L
Can never be measured in isolation. v/ r* Z+ V9 g; B& r/ M
on a path into ourselves.) @0 [( ^+ S) K9 Z
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It is true then:+ T: q1 k- _$ V8 G
Our everlasting future
& @, u0 |) Y r# R( J" Y$ J$ c Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles9 j0 K# Y3 _8 e6 r
Into the pond of life2 l% W% P7 i; _# ]
Creating ripples
, b ]6 {, H) h$ n: M0 y that leave unique mark on our world 3 Z* K' e5 |) K' h' U, ]: J5 j# `
Not because of thoughts
2 s5 a& H8 O" r9 s' S' E i3 z- D not because of well meaning plans
3 r b; G; N+ u6 x9 I But because of actions. 7 I# R7 a4 |5 t- p
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Our life's prayers our answered) R4 O5 v" A" ]! a
Because even the smallest pebble
) e5 I6 k$ ]5 z( D( p0 d. I9 y No matter how seemingly insignificant( B4 d- Q* c! h. i, T9 G/ _6 A
Changes the course of the lives
/ O: ?+ p% t# S- `* E6 x+ h1 J Of those we touch.? " p+ W: r; c# h& ~
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And when the icy winds of death
4 s/ o7 e0 B; a; K/ z* g, v beckon our lasting attention
8 e5 |9 K% Q ?5 G7 Z R We will gently leave this life 4 k2 P2 V/ O& o2 D& S0 X( L: i
With the knowledge that
0 w& D# J _6 ?& I% d5 _2 h because of that one pebble
$ g% W, @! {+ A4 R; i' R3 k The world will never be the same.
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And then we have heaven …
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+ _6 `- |3 R5 S" k" M3 s Ross Rosenberg* Z" [7 k& b) ?2 K* e! d
8/18/03 |
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