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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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( |$ E; m& v. f; 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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6 q- _( l" v9 n! W$ c) ~& N% r Heaven
5 \# j) v2 |: @+ { The pebble is worn smooth 7 e) T4 g' ]) D" N4 F
Made small over time
3 W; x0 w9 P% f! x' ]7 S- | A product of a cataclysmic force of nature$ C8 w8 @0 g, R6 V
A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock/ ^) Q& {% L3 W: N
An accidental offspring of a boulder 1 \" F! b! ^* o3 R' _2 l
But just a very small stone. 1 g, O7 K5 [+ V" i- q
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The pebble's place in our world 8 [! _2 ~% Z: A, k- D5 [
Is neither understood nor appreciated: p8 }2 x# w2 u% n: {3 v
But when thrown into a glassy calm pond # C% s3 u! D- b$ z& v! q% i
Its insignificance is transformed7 V! `$ X$ T; t' d% q# R
Its meaning and purpose is unleashed.1 a9 w9 s9 Y4 r9 k. W
: }. U% j4 S: a% x% {; y The instant the pebble kisses the pond- I+ Z2 X% D! ~
Its signature of concentric ripples 6 ?( D8 @5 g4 f( R! b' \- O
Spiral outwards ! z5 A7 ?; H9 s
Moving far beyond itself.
# S! b3 I0 [$ d' p4 g Gently affecting everything in its wake R+ O( F9 s% H8 A$ M- h
Forever altering the smooth placid surface.5 ]+ [& \& e0 b3 X
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The pebble creates its worth and meaning $ z2 Q( C% u6 U/ {. Q; c7 a
By unleashing its unimagined power? 6 X; n, t+ D* x8 [
Into a dueling force of action and reaction
) X# m9 E' y7 A% U8 }% `" } Creating karmic energy- E5 v6 a0 K7 R
Producing lasting and fluid impressions.$ U$ k; o# t7 s6 }# V7 {
: B# S; l( [6 B/ i Aren't we all pebbles?& y9 q. C# |, n% m" s
Feeling small and insignificant! s5 R2 @4 I3 L# f. |
But ultimately recognizing
/ T/ |9 [7 |" Y/ l1 k That who we are meant to be
+ z! U) K1 o+ `7 M, c L Can never be measured in isolation
1 U/ V, ?! [9 K" R: p$ X on a path into ourselves.
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* r+ Q- N; j! e: U) S, k2 \1 n It is true then:
6 [1 p6 c# a6 @8 S7 p' ]/ x Our everlasting future ) T2 e4 l5 V7 N: e: Q7 g
Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles8 L# F" _6 p3 c5 U( m3 y
Into the pond of life3 H0 s) ~4 S. z* e5 c3 B3 ~
Creating ripples 1 r+ B% G3 D+ H$ U. C
that leave unique mark on our world 9 P: F7 \0 T5 |7 D- v
Not because of thoughts
& k1 e2 z4 W% a, d6 f not because of well meaning plans5 i3 X, \( g3 ^7 A
But because of actions. # N% J- P3 @$ N( Y5 m" i- i
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Our life's prayers our answered
7 x5 b# k$ B6 o Because even the smallest pebble
6 ]5 H3 C1 t: k# Z! V% z No matter how seemingly insignificant
$ t, F. F# ]" x: o Changes the course of the lives. r' H7 A# _% i% @/ [
Of those we touch.? ) l5 D* E2 g$ _8 {" N1 C* [" O
# l \% U% q, [ And when the icy winds of death" I: T- I' l* i9 T2 }
beckon our lasting attention$ h C, s, s* E! k3 T; i. U4 N
We will gently leave this life
9 f/ _8 T, H! a) I0 d! e0 m With the knowledge that . p/ b# n7 o9 ]- E2 X% c* @
because of that one pebble
& g6 i) x4 j6 A1 _ The world will never be the same.* J3 A. F7 k0 n* l# \! L
_* G7 z) o! D5 J: m0 S And then we have heaven …2 q1 a) p1 m+ j, y: X( u) B
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Ross Rosenberg. O# [' B' t% ~" e% ~- O
8/18/03 |
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发表于 2010-3-12 06:36
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