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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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" ]5 W4 x7 D A/ b7 K& Z 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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Heaven, V. t* D" }! P& o
The pebble is worn smooth + A; D3 p8 ?! V1 U& i2 y; @/ ?
Made small over time3 K. E, I- O* t2 ?2 r+ O
A product of a cataclysmic force of nature3 _7 c& P' t$ w. `" T
A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock
& T. X1 Q5 S$ m1 \# V# m ` An accidental offspring of a boulder / _% ]; n* _6 q- U; f- @( z
But just a very small stone.
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The pebble's place in our world $ j. d: s" U8 m S6 \7 U, G3 r
Is neither understood nor appreciated l* t! V! r# L
But when thrown into a glassy calm pond : W* Z1 `/ z: [2 N) m/ A
Its insignificance is transformed
5 e+ \; {' G9 \0 y q# c Its meaning and purpose is unleashed.2 b, Z/ A |! K( |& m
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The instant the pebble kisses the pond
$ @: L- Y& c1 W Its signature of concentric ripples
( u: `' F4 G- F/ y Spiral outwards
. V. e3 e; n! e* | Moving far beyond itself.
& |; n. _( Q4 m' u- H2 d! f Gently affecting everything in its wake, H: G, Q |9 X! H# x& o2 t+ t
Forever altering the smooth placid surface.4 h3 V* i6 g% G% J" {3 W9 U
2 a5 C$ b1 b/ @* \0 m& R t The pebble creates its worth and meaning
% |+ p9 d8 O# A& Q. O* }( o" t By unleashing its unimagined power?
# L/ g6 V% ~6 R7 b' O Into a dueling force of action and reaction* l" v, ^4 f' d* ^' f; U# }
Creating karmic energy
6 o* ^! N0 p @ Producing lasting and fluid impressions., s# a, d# H4 L' }
* B% B3 t) E* w. J Aren't we all pebbles?
: m0 f7 p) S" ?. d Feeling small and insignificant
& ~7 y8 l, x: m9 l' V$ W) H But ultimately recognizing ) ?/ A9 o( m# {$ b6 o2 y+ Q
That who we are meant to be, W2 u: p5 Y1 w) l' l8 e* `9 n
Can never be measured in isolation
2 S% o! M8 w' U( l. @ on a path into ourselves.
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It is true then:* d$ i- { {8 d
Our everlasting future 0 T$ h$ n% X3 u$ C" R1 u/ s
Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles, S8 |7 ~+ U8 |
Into the pond of life
3 {) C7 ]( W: `% u9 r Creating ripples % h) s' s9 t3 }. w! g+ m
that leave unique mark on our world ' z0 U6 A8 [. d2 R
Not because of thoughts
1 a3 _* X% _( D+ h2 d2 R/ ?2 c6 u/ G not because of well meaning plans
b; `. Q9 P. f' { But because of actions. 4 N! k% h* H# e5 I0 ]7 q6 g
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Our life's prayers our answered! T* S: U+ Z, J6 _) H* K
Because even the smallest pebble ( s- ~ K5 _5 t4 W, C
No matter how seemingly insignificant
! Z( K/ U# W/ ]- f! U Changes the course of the lives
# b4 q7 c6 W& N& T( i Of those we touch.?
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0 k. f2 F# T$ Z! U/ U) J6 X- G/ v And when the icy winds of death3 v- r$ y: @2 ~+ u- m" Y
beckon our lasting attention3 ^/ I+ v: B7 i A) E4 h
We will gently leave this life
4 e+ @) \, r% g0 O: H! c$ p With the knowledge that
7 q' G/ R" ]1 |8 H, E, ? because of that one pebble
) t6 i5 ^! D: c+ O: s, K. L The world will never be the same.$ Y1 E$ Z G+ M9 e
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And then we have heaven …
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Ross Rosenberg
& Y/ ~2 J6 d( _5 u 8/18/03 |
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发表于 2010-3-12 06:36
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