 鲜花( 0)  鸡蛋( 0)
|
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.
2 x$ Q5 f3 F* F7 \4 l
D+ Y- I9 _! K 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.
% E8 @1 W2 |' ? 6 t/ p1 ~) v: `1 x: m
Heaven+ [- W. Z4 \% w5 p3 v
The pebble is worn smooth
8 R. B. @5 _5 p# \5 \ M* ? Made small over time/ c2 U, a" ~# m" P$ ^" `" q
A product of a cataclysmic force of nature
0 o% l' K0 X+ w A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock c4 E2 q3 [$ D. s) y G( M
An accidental offspring of a boulder
% F2 x8 J# S9 d! Q7 L5 e But just a very small stone. . @0 s( V: P8 s
0 ~. Q' D9 F. U8 O m4 s5 V G$ [
The pebble's place in our world ' O& T) x5 {% c
Is neither understood nor appreciated; y" e& z- O5 V+ J' Y4 g
But when thrown into a glassy calm pond " P+ c1 v* i- @# r9 P, ? _
Its insignificance is transformed, x( I, f3 U& f2 @3 E. |+ R/ @* E4 ]
Its meaning and purpose is unleashed.$ J% I6 `1 e3 r8 H. c6 i
. `/ [- |- f+ M+ N$ T* I
The instant the pebble kisses the pond5 |/ u2 Q [* l( ~' X
Its signature of concentric ripples
6 ]6 K5 c) D1 D2 p& O Spiral outwards
3 n* y. X @: n, _& s9 i6 P Moving far beyond itself.* Y. }, ]2 m4 ]0 u& _- p8 s9 ^4 U
Gently affecting everything in its wake
3 g" I9 D7 p- c/ [4 x5 v0 B: o Forever altering the smooth placid surface., J1 D/ G8 |0 U1 G. L0 [
4 [4 M2 E/ j5 W# b" v! s) G; S8 T
The pebble creates its worth and meaning / u5 o* M0 j# V) c8 h, t
By unleashing its unimagined power?
+ Q/ V! L3 d, C" w4 {! ~ Into a dueling force of action and reaction5 \: ^. J5 d4 {- Y) B/ ^ k
Creating karmic energy; u' u8 A8 o7 U6 u9 i
Producing lasting and fluid impressions.
: t5 i, i; C ?& B2 J) l7 w
; Q! _; Z& `/ Q& M Aren't we all pebbles?4 C, z+ h% t1 U
Feeling small and insignificant% O6 Y1 m% \0 t
But ultimately recognizing
1 @$ P( l0 j. t1 e" P That who we are meant to be
9 G, Y7 }: j& h9 o5 L Can never be measured in isolation. M+ m7 k/ W N+ B( \+ [
on a path into ourselves. }4 f- ^+ z. Q9 ~- s: g1 f
# ?/ X& v S! W
It is true then:8 x' t+ p5 t9 ]5 t1 {9 k( Y
Our everlasting future
& |1 q& u. Z; F2 G @ Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles- k, L* U) N8 W- @' T
Into the pond of life
7 [% B4 K3 O7 ^: f% N) g Creating ripples " C( g* f3 o% |$ y0 `7 @
that leave unique mark on our world % M$ R8 M9 H) n0 q0 f0 ^
Not because of thoughts : `- u: s9 L" J9 G) u, R
not because of well meaning plans
. q; h% P8 A# i$ U8 g0 M0 f8 \; a But because of actions. : ]) j9 \! Q- o7 m! o3 l
9 { R! t0 U. W4 R6 ~' O8 S4 q Our life's prayers our answered0 K" H- n. M" m* G+ h& i
Because even the smallest pebble
) j' ?, F4 \ r" W) I2 s No matter how seemingly insignificant
: M! A# F, o3 A0 P Changes the course of the lives+ P' @" G, b+ c' T- F
Of those we touch.? 4 C6 D& X" Z) P3 L/ F' T
5 L/ W5 m' H& b+ |! C4 F0 j# t5 V1 u And when the icy winds of death, F: i; T) b( z- q8 ]6 W V w) f
beckon our lasting attention5 ~8 z C" Y T
We will gently leave this life
/ U3 j2 Z/ r8 b With the knowledge that
2 c6 B, ?% Y/ O' v1 M because of that one pebble 7 O% n ~3 e& F A1 n: W2 m
The world will never be the same.: o) z# t* h$ E0 I8 I/ L
2 H+ S+ o' n A) ^ And then we have heaven …1 S! a. ~+ t+ d \& B+ w/ N
- M/ v3 p8 v4 D2 ? { O Ross Rosenberg
8 q& w7 Z4 d9 p1 a; r 8/18/03 |
|
狗仔卡
发表于 2010-3-12 06:36
提升卡
置顶卡
沉默卡
喧嚣卡
变色卡
显身卡