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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. ' D/ a I f X) ~8 \
2 ~% C) u5 F0 P% A! ^) u 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. ~3 [1 h( I! E2 h) Q9 m# | ?
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Heaven7 w/ P, }; p* C) q) S: \& z
The pebble is worn smooth , \. {& M, v3 b& J2 I _
Made small over time5 k6 j# H( f; h
A product of a cataclysmic force of nature" N u3 I) Y/ i$ K Q3 z$ b$ p
A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock
# x6 A2 y7 r0 d6 y An accidental offspring of a boulder 0 { e% ^: t" h2 J5 U2 _
But just a very small stone.
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The pebble's place in our world 7 ]. c9 J% W0 Y0 O- m" d, _$ S! s/ G
Is neither understood nor appreciated, L* H/ P/ ]( i M
But when thrown into a glassy calm pond
( q' b, c+ W+ P" }2 _4 w) {' D8 K$ e Its insignificance is transformed3 N# ?+ _; S6 H3 I
Its meaning and purpose is unleashed.3 P) V; i) g4 G) @
( {) G5 ^5 d0 W" \ The instant the pebble kisses the pond
^8 W: Y' b; s9 M2 P Its signature of concentric ripples
" R3 ]0 s) ?0 S) [2 ?! D& @1 E Spiral outwards ! h6 L$ U/ G7 V
Moving far beyond itself.
) G" Q! x; ?- p4 _' [$ L% { Gently affecting everything in its wake
' j, B# ~3 E" Z Forever altering the smooth placid surface.; j9 k6 O# _; @! f [# a/ t2 I
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The pebble creates its worth and meaning
2 X0 d3 B9 O( B5 n% o0 M& m By unleashing its unimagined power?
+ O2 p9 Z4 S# F& G! b5 o, ]7 b o Into a dueling force of action and reaction
; |. y9 S: z* j9 @0 e9 g Creating karmic energy" i; |# A0 \/ J U! x. D! s
Producing lasting and fluid impressions.; k3 U1 I* J, v
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Aren't we all pebbles?
! a' Q# z2 m& m1 @; Y5 G3 t3 F Feeling small and insignificant
0 c/ O3 ?0 s R+ v' \7 l5 F* E But ultimately recognizing 0 u/ \/ a+ y# p. t! q
That who we are meant to be c; ?, U/ ?% G6 e8 o
Can never be measured in isolation; z0 [% {5 O( }1 ?; }4 }+ t2 a( u! H' M
on a path into ourselves.1 ~$ j3 U3 E' {& f* N0 x
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It is true then:5 R' C1 \) @5 R# D+ A, ^: b6 u: X
Our everlasting future
) {; H7 Y1 ]* W3 v Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles
' _' J! A2 i4 ^+ g7 t Into the pond of life
, c4 _# _ R, B" ~ Creating ripples ' f7 s5 @9 ^9 s. _8 N5 O* c L6 u
that leave unique mark on our world ( c. [/ H1 L5 j o: {
Not because of thoughts
7 g) m' ?$ s0 w not because of well meaning plans* g) |/ h6 x8 v
But because of actions.
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Our life's prayers our answered- s+ n! Q) |. x
Because even the smallest pebble
1 N* \( g# s, ?- n1 y No matter how seemingly insignificant
1 B7 }5 B& z4 p Changes the course of the lives0 W( u* N- f, b) |+ R
Of those we touch.? - O' D, o" e) x
0 G3 N! Q# A8 D And when the icy winds of death' e4 b! ]# h+ i
beckon our lasting attention9 J, c+ F" r1 D; h8 @. ^8 z0 b
We will gently leave this life
3 Y- c: o* U( P0 r3 a With the knowledge that 5 i, C+ x5 b) ~
because of that one pebble
% C# [' ~2 E) m4 I3 n, K9 `- u# W7 N The world will never be the same.% U3 S. S# ?/ i% J3 K7 R
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And then we have heaven …
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Ross Rosenberg
; [6 z, _; I: k$ B7 O 8/18/03 |
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发表于 2010-3-12 06:36
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