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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. ' a" ]4 J5 F5 f) t. h( \5 l
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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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4 z- A* t R/ _* t Heaven; ~; e3 H1 u( b' V$ @6 l
The pebble is worn smooth
& Y0 z" F) h9 _6 ^ Made small over time6 d, P/ r: x/ l! L3 Z, A% j
A product of a cataclysmic force of nature: [; m4 r( M. x2 C% D5 v
A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock; d- ~% e# W0 v" J: J
An accidental offspring of a boulder
7 d9 {8 V+ q% Z8 i But just a very small stone. % Y q& L0 D7 a) N6 @
+ U! i0 o! W) @' A3 W3 \ The pebble's place in our world
3 V3 R6 x2 E% c+ R# K! T Is neither understood nor appreciated5 t8 T& G) M4 A; g1 n$ j- `
But when thrown into a glassy calm pond , J1 x; e5 w+ w( E8 H7 k
Its insignificance is transformed1 ~: p! |' e s: \2 e# G! A
Its meaning and purpose is unleashed.
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The instant the pebble kisses the pond$ j! B# \6 Y9 e' t% @4 P# O
Its signature of concentric ripples
! v1 h3 ?& {7 P/ `- b S2 H. ^1 q5 O Spiral outwards * G/ i$ \* p* Z4 r) T. e- @1 q P
Moving far beyond itself.: y s0 y4 x5 B$ r2 x. g
Gently affecting everything in its wake5 l' F4 p U( A0 N* q5 ]( j
Forever altering the smooth placid surface.
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The pebble creates its worth and meaning
; w3 k8 Z3 M p" J1 D" ~ By unleashing its unimagined power? 3 d; X: @! J8 X; {6 o$ W$ A8 K1 n+ T
Into a dueling force of action and reaction0 b d0 M4 g: M" M' p5 `: [$ N
Creating karmic energy1 Q- g4 |4 K# \. _' x
Producing lasting and fluid impressions.
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T5 Z& L# b+ C% y$ b1 V Aren't we all pebbles?7 k. [) i" m1 v' H0 \/ p
Feeling small and insignificant
+ s( T- G R9 Q" g# c+ r But ultimately recognizing 9 @6 _/ ^* T2 ~0 P! r' g
That who we are meant to be- c* P1 z( a) k; Z+ i+ g! _
Can never be measured in isolation) Z: R; [9 E- Z! \( S
on a path into ourselves.
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It is true then:
; T. b m( ]4 Y& z0 b: _* O' q Our everlasting future ! S- q1 Y% U9 J/ g/ Z
Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles
1 g) C w2 E/ K6 F1 o- U$ F Into the pond of life
# w6 A* G2 s0 C& d) u/ k7 q Creating ripples # G1 y8 L0 k9 X, F
that leave unique mark on our world 0 c8 P# t3 u9 J4 G+ _
Not because of thoughts
3 r5 N: n9 W. j# R0 f! t8 }. i. b not because of well meaning plans7 L5 D; `0 u. Y0 n2 y
But because of actions. ; g# Y: l6 j' y3 q! N& x/ c; \* B' T
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Our life's prayers our answered
* _+ C9 o6 h6 ?* s( c( ?% x Because even the smallest pebble % i6 u* v0 ?1 D
No matter how seemingly insignificant
z1 j% o/ A/ j Changes the course of the lives% n1 W1 m$ n5 y% L8 `
Of those we touch.?
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And when the icy winds of death
' F; `4 v- u4 D" b$ O beckon our lasting attention6 r, n/ M9 _7 j4 p* g
We will gently leave this life , X4 Z, P0 l4 b: g2 }3 k2 D) v
With the knowledge that
) [, b2 K4 ]) b# y( @2 b because of that one pebble . d7 A4 @) I- J4 h
The world will never be the same.
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& ^1 M- r4 ~* D And then we have heaven …2 Q, T- D# P: b! ?" s# T( }
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Ross Rosenberg* ^! z" x, E2 w/ E# [' Q- k% {6 x
8/18/03 |
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