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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. 6 e' u# {; l- i2 \: H9 ]: K
* s( x5 O. Q3 m# }, O2 o 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., }1 |: F7 ^$ Q! \+ T
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Heaven( O0 E' e/ [2 ^+ @: B5 }
The pebble is worn smooth
# ?# g& q& f ~6 l/ x Made small over time
% g, ?& c3 b- M: P A product of a cataclysmic force of nature3 t$ h4 {% J1 o% V( @7 B
A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock) @1 I' E7 `% T, i
An accidental offspring of a boulder ( r( G' u, s F: `
But just a very small stone.
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: D8 T) R1 u) m9 o* O" B! I' P The pebble's place in our world 3 k8 h1 B4 G1 S% B# |
Is neither understood nor appreciated
2 M+ y, K1 u! C: G: d But when thrown into a glassy calm pond 5 r7 c/ u# ~6 n! p# p
Its insignificance is transformed
7 x7 G8 v4 S7 a9 x" x% q$ l0 b Its meaning and purpose is unleashed.4 q; m7 N! A, z6 G0 `# `
: F7 |; u0 e m v The instant the pebble kisses the pond" n/ w2 V. D; t" |) \
Its signature of concentric ripples ) F+ W: f- r0 l- Q: V7 j( E
Spiral outwards
; s5 }7 w- X( g Moving far beyond itself.
$ l# v% Z: S- i: x Gently affecting everything in its wake2 x# P" C4 b( G! l; O+ l
Forever altering the smooth placid surface.
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The pebble creates its worth and meaning 4 ^0 K1 b! x% g6 R: g; y |
By unleashing its unimagined power?
9 P0 q4 k0 I: j) l Into a dueling force of action and reaction9 k) A# e7 N' \: z6 z' k
Creating karmic energy
% W& ]3 b8 n- F1 v0 e+ }+ J+ m1 H Producing lasting and fluid impressions.
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& x V3 V& a, j5 z Aren't we all pebbles?1 t: a+ J- q5 @/ R: l
Feeling small and insignificant5 e: z$ T; {6 N3 u) X
But ultimately recognizing
- O3 c1 Y7 {% @$ D That who we are meant to be$ `. Y! R( o g+ L: T6 q( B' Z* G- c
Can never be measured in isolation
. j4 H5 z( V8 | on a path into ourselves.
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It is true then:0 V% C0 D3 y9 Q4 P0 n
Our everlasting future
( s! o+ i6 C" b0 m Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles
3 @4 K: n+ @' N) L4 P3 F& m | Into the pond of life
# ` T6 J2 I9 M) [ h5 b( W, D Creating ripples
# f) r) }7 J/ M$ Z- G- C that leave unique mark on our world & e: k) a; K% \7 c+ g
Not because of thoughts # q% W6 C1 E: e$ C+ d
not because of well meaning plans
% }% A( v* E$ X- R$ N But because of actions.
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Our life's prayers our answered6 P( C& |$ N, ]7 e) f7 k+ k( F1 o ]3 k
Because even the smallest pebble
e7 R0 Y. M! a) e; H" d No matter how seemingly insignificant
8 ]7 d5 I9 F+ X/ H- G3 L5 a, A$ j# C Changes the course of the lives1 X# v+ \8 C1 F% h! [9 p
Of those we touch.?
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And when the icy winds of death
3 Y( \1 A1 P7 f; e beckon our lasting attention
' V1 \ \6 e9 O3 D! i We will gently leave this life
9 O+ s( P u: j/ ?, t With the knowledge that
) y- i8 t+ J1 v2 O; p because of that one pebble
" I% y: i, ]' [" X. C- H The world will never be the same.' e, C% j0 A# t. W2 F; a# v9 D
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And then we have heaven …' r: P% J1 ^% g/ [: b% T
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Ross Rosenberg
9 w+ G/ G; v& r9 O/ _3 f$ l. U 8/18/03 |
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