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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. , p% i" e$ |' c6 z
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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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. E' R4 e4 G# ]$ k# \; {. E3 Y3 e- k Heaven
/ v. v0 F) H9 E2 R9 } The pebble is worn smooth 8 u/ ?0 A8 D. d- U
Made small over time
8 E: m1 f' |+ q( v& I, I A product of a cataclysmic force of nature8 p+ Y" W$ f' c8 _% k
A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock
4 x: C7 G5 X$ e4 G An accidental offspring of a boulder ) a% S0 K9 _# h( f, k
But just a very small stone. 1 Q t# I# y. s1 D0 d
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The pebble's place in our world
6 e @" y' l0 N) C Is neither understood nor appreciated; w: J9 P) K3 Z) W4 S
But when thrown into a glassy calm pond $ U' A. q( D7 ^& \
Its insignificance is transformed
0 E0 e, I& D. e. u" d3 w Its meaning and purpose is unleashed.
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The instant the pebble kisses the pond
7 q% v W' S( G$ Z2 O6 k Its signature of concentric ripples * x6 j/ r- f* v; @/ L- }! [3 i1 K. [
Spiral outwards , I! Q& I4 M) ?! I- f& B
Moving far beyond itself.
- ]! J; f' H& v# f; b; b o Gently affecting everything in its wake
O& V7 L* P0 @% G Forever altering the smooth placid surface.0 h; \! A0 Z" X' x
/ X1 u. u: L, z( Q. ^: K* B The pebble creates its worth and meaning ! ^/ Y7 W* A( G' u5 U
By unleashing its unimagined power? 5 X/ C- A2 h) S! Y- a
Into a dueling force of action and reaction
) W# k$ ?$ K3 e Creating karmic energy
8 l& y! ]: ?( { Producing lasting and fluid impressions.
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Aren't we all pebbles?
G# J" T9 t. _* F/ K) K Feeling small and insignificant' y3 J9 f0 }) M7 f9 K( p7 T
But ultimately recognizing
( ?4 X/ S7 I: Q" C! f5 k1 Q* P That who we are meant to be E; T) ^) {) z! _2 [: A
Can never be measured in isolation" R# l# y8 }7 {/ y f
on a path into ourselves.5 g' A# H# c+ \% D$ p
1 b3 N' S! v, Y. @# P It is true then:, [7 C# L" P# i4 y& ]
Our everlasting future
$ x6 ^" `$ Z. a2 { ] Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles2 T$ F+ a1 ^4 c) v# y
Into the pond of life6 t R5 u; T8 S) t _
Creating ripples
/ \) n. M( y- \2 r' P9 @ that leave unique mark on our world
4 E9 k4 E: p$ R7 G: H) }, u/ \. g Not because of thoughts 9 W0 M( D, y& Y" `& q
not because of well meaning plans
, m- J+ j+ f5 \ |! m: i$ @& ? But because of actions. , J4 m& S, H0 d; {' f$ c/ v
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Our life's prayers our answered
: I+ S& q) |( Y6 O Because even the smallest pebble
/ c5 ^! g% d; Z8 Z+ ?; M No matter how seemingly insignificant& v+ t1 ]/ m l8 k4 I- Q$ @
Changes the course of the lives
! R' t- T. }& u Of those we touch.?
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And when the icy winds of death8 v e, U/ u& X3 E8 l/ r
beckon our lasting attention$ y2 b. w% k/ e" P& g
We will gently leave this life
# q: `4 {3 ?( S! ^9 w With the knowledge that 2 e8 G% C. I0 C# {. @, x
because of that one pebble
: u0 m* K3 _2 P) }. I8 i The world will never be the same.! J' s% K" o+ N5 ^- Q# P( l
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And then we have heaven …- D: u f' E6 P) u" }
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Ross Rosenberg5 Q% m( O/ Z6 S0 j
8/18/03 |
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