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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. }8 Y8 \ O6 y1 }) ]6 |
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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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/ |# H& J: f% Y, m9 ? Heaven5 M2 q2 ]1 ]$ A0 H4 J, K E
The pebble is worn smooth
" a& M/ x; X6 e# [. B# }+ p& F Made small over time3 e5 p/ u6 R. W% S
A product of a cataclysmic force of nature
$ ]' j6 o8 U# m5 P' N0 `# J A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock
$ S/ |( w3 f( o+ o- n6 W a An accidental offspring of a boulder - }7 B& V8 t8 Q. ~
But just a very small stone. 8 K' X2 I- t3 K5 c! y! N% {2 h
' T( _1 ]) N6 X3 U/ i5 Q5 y: s The pebble's place in our world
5 a* [0 p: s' H4 i% t, ~# S Is neither understood nor appreciated
* S) i5 Z* D7 H; n+ I+ _/ n But when thrown into a glassy calm pond # O, W7 \6 q8 E
Its insignificance is transformed
& }# u% S+ w7 K4 D Its meaning and purpose is unleashed., ?! h* S- w5 S d" ?4 y& D
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The instant the pebble kisses the pond+ m1 H% A( V9 F, A, U
Its signature of concentric ripples
. }1 ~& y( \, r ~8 v Spiral outwards # I i" T& @4 ^7 [
Moving far beyond itself.5 Y7 h1 v5 W) B+ b
Gently affecting everything in its wake
% s9 O r* p8 ]" {2 N7 I: B2 b Forever altering the smooth placid surface.0 J0 A" r- S4 R* D; Y
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The pebble creates its worth and meaning
/ ?# G! w1 w* l f# z/ i: K) a By unleashing its unimagined power?
( F; l% o5 H1 |$ S% e/ \ Into a dueling force of action and reaction+ I) D# X$ [( P9 T6 W h
Creating karmic energy
9 M5 ?; Z0 O9 M, E Producing lasting and fluid impressions.
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/ [$ m: a6 _: }# I+ @ Aren't we all pebbles?$ v' G; i, ~; K9 t3 U
Feeling small and insignificant
. _: t; b, K1 b- t* M/ N2 w But ultimately recognizing ) s) w1 o5 l2 Q" h# c+ T8 m
That who we are meant to be+ O, i3 v. }+ X5 N
Can never be measured in isolation
: O3 ]1 v) _% d on a path into ourselves. i& n2 E; P6 G. y
& h6 j/ n1 `% a6 p I' y It is true then:. ^4 T1 ~3 @1 @. A* o) k- `& I/ R
Our everlasting future , n0 H2 F0 q* v9 c% b
Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles
1 Y. |- o% i I' F0 Y9 `7 A Into the pond of life
0 ]& W7 L! T5 p2 |8 I1 r& X, w Creating ripples 3 B' R/ o0 U+ X3 c# I" g# y3 l
that leave unique mark on our world . _$ x9 B0 y0 T9 D* H
Not because of thoughts
& B0 e. m0 h& @ t3 y3 Q) y not because of well meaning plans
) {5 G5 I# H" G6 N5 L6 ] But because of actions.
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Our life's prayers our answered
' ]7 @- e& E3 o: c6 H Because even the smallest pebble
& d; B% ~* y7 S No matter how seemingly insignificant ]4 i: P9 q7 l- r4 q0 _* c, w
Changes the course of the lives9 ~9 W( G; f6 u/ z2 k4 ?! l
Of those we touch.?
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2 p4 W) W& m: L3 A2 \# v% L, W& o7 ]' d And when the icy winds of death1 e. e5 y8 W: B+ M o+ i( Q
beckon our lasting attention6 X3 W* D! z* i; o1 E
We will gently leave this life
0 Q+ [3 G% {" B# S% s W# H) G, O With the knowledge that
- I: b: Q; U8 ^- W+ \ because of that one pebble / q0 H0 w. j m- {! u
The world will never be the same.9 X( s- t) X" X6 @: V. o
/ {: D8 v7 v4 z, m And then we have heaven …
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Ross Rosenberg/ l5 `" s9 A. f6 i' r3 f' B
8/18/03 |
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