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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. ' l- u# [. T6 C( s* X/ _/ H
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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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Heaven+ W* {# L1 O6 _; U! n
The pebble is worn smooth : s, w- C. f9 l4 |" U
Made small over time
3 |2 h1 b/ _$ t8 ] A product of a cataclysmic force of nature$ X3 a, I. O/ X* Z: r- |0 T4 G6 ]
A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock
a& I* Y% I1 n2 l7 F An accidental offspring of a boulder
: R4 F* Z( T; c; c* F9 C But just a very small stone. 4 a8 _5 `) G0 W9 h
& y# O8 z2 ^2 Z' @8 u The pebble's place in our world 3 | b" y9 g' f. F. d v2 V& k
Is neither understood nor appreciated5 V1 d0 {' K1 R& _3 \2 H; W$ s
But when thrown into a glassy calm pond
" Z+ v1 n4 O1 m" h Its insignificance is transformed N, `+ T5 O4 \' Y# v
Its meaning and purpose is unleashed." n& Q* N U+ f: K
. R& p; d- h/ Y" W' i5 D+ r8 d The instant the pebble kisses the pond. Y' _; a/ ~: H) j' Q: G
Its signature of concentric ripples
( \/ ^( O0 L# X: O5 R6 S: {9 j: c Spiral outwards 9 H! Z5 U1 I4 X( a* J3 v$ r
Moving far beyond itself.7 `& u4 K7 m% m
Gently affecting everything in its wake
. L4 K" ?- @2 ?% o+ L Forever altering the smooth placid surface.& F" F1 L- t/ {) S2 D9 c; `
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The pebble creates its worth and meaning 1 ~3 t- ]8 v( e: y `
By unleashing its unimagined power?
8 A' J' n- u! o9 L. d1 r Into a dueling force of action and reaction
# O9 [) }: O2 _8 |4 y! p! e- U' m Creating karmic energy
0 Z7 x% p# r: X* z Producing lasting and fluid impressions.5 [) `1 Z p( c5 L% x( S. a- S
! I9 d# R2 J, J, n) a8 u Aren't we all pebbles?" Z5 Y& Z3 [# R; h. e
Feeling small and insignificant/ k0 a' f7 x' P9 f* z' S
But ultimately recognizing
& A. Q0 G5 o1 v* N- U8 ^5 E1 H! o That who we are meant to be9 c% D! `4 B# [/ h6 O
Can never be measured in isolation: k" `+ C- }: k7 H1 \. M
on a path into ourselves.
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$ ]8 v) w9 R+ | It is true then:1 ]9 U$ N$ d) H& U+ g
Our everlasting future & ~, C( ~( F. I3 O y! z
Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles
! N6 U$ r1 e: s9 _7 P Into the pond of life- c; L( T; ?7 w3 h' ~
Creating ripples
$ O7 N/ t- T, H6 B4 Q8 u% D+ N that leave unique mark on our world 8 Y, Z6 Y0 s# N( b; c7 a. C
Not because of thoughts ( N5 [# \# r8 ^
not because of well meaning plans, g3 d8 C! ? i9 A: ?3 R0 H
But because of actions.
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# l+ e5 {$ Y. Q: @% O N6 k7 I- M Our life's prayers our answered
, A9 \; i4 C# A" E- s0 u: g1 u& i% W Because even the smallest pebble
3 A1 h6 i6 ^/ ~2 ?5 l" _1 U q1 g No matter how seemingly insignificant3 t2 x% Q1 l* m& _- o& u" A; t
Changes the course of the lives) @$ v# b& O3 a, J1 i
Of those we touch.?
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& G5 B: r# q8 D+ X3 ` And when the icy winds of death
$ y! ?$ p" x' ~* l; g: {7 Z6 B beckon our lasting attention w: V( L k$ f
We will gently leave this life . P# j% z+ R f. I# C, H; }
With the knowledge that % J" Z$ C0 A v6 |2 Z
because of that one pebble ; b- ~3 f$ _8 V+ W( @+ R, x! L5 S
The world will never be the same.1 l2 @& ?+ H5 k8 J
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And then we have heaven …
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1 Q3 o$ X4 U2 S$ y! Z9 N Ross Rosenberg
; f0 h& b, P* E9 I% s 8/18/03 |
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