 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 B( @( Y6 v% w, s7 I ' ^' A6 a. e/ W/ y9 R
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 z8 k# @7 E$ M1 k5 n
9 ]' F9 X* H( q7 f! A0 r Heaven; M6 R! j8 B% K2 G% ]( d
The pebble is worn smooth
4 E# C* h. X0 l* G. |: s2 k0 Y. c$ M Made small over time
: r* `3 n9 [/ B, B6 y# O- f/ K A product of a cataclysmic force of nature
& v9 N, `0 V4 r% r A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock1 X3 K+ O# W0 `! Q* J
An accidental offspring of a boulder $ E8 z8 E, B2 t2 Z8 p( E- P; _2 s
But just a very small stone. : [* C1 o$ B- Z- X* y' [/ H
& d+ z' m/ ?. {5 o' T$ D
The pebble's place in our world ! y7 X% e/ `) J+ |( p( t( U% A
Is neither understood nor appreciated+ B$ w' }9 o% G1 C$ r+ A
But when thrown into a glassy calm pond & v+ b/ q, y) a# r! B2 ? o; _
Its insignificance is transformed
# ]9 C. @3 A3 I1 C4 S: J+ C! Y, k Its meaning and purpose is unleashed.# l3 K! E9 m/ s* z# x
2 Q$ | L& ^/ h& Y e4 k% u The instant the pebble kisses the pond2 e; I: k' C; R5 s0 l* B
Its signature of concentric ripples # |! b/ t. f( i+ u" S
Spiral outwards
3 g9 }3 s# p3 P _( x Moving far beyond itself.
. ` g5 w& s3 p- f; f! g Gently affecting everything in its wake4 m$ P5 q1 n1 a, u' J+ Q- D, r
Forever altering the smooth placid surface.
" [9 k- w5 {5 p6 l' }$ @" U 5 u: Q _& n/ k3 G7 F2 t7 }
The pebble creates its worth and meaning
: N1 F) P4 @/ J b By unleashing its unimagined power? 6 M& n0 R7 X9 l3 o9 J) U
Into a dueling force of action and reaction+ S- ^( P3 c0 M% F2 d' D
Creating karmic energy" o# N3 }# U1 h- Z) I
Producing lasting and fluid impressions.
- C1 [: _7 Q7 @9 C; f 9 [: v5 B6 [ @3 d
Aren't we all pebbles?
7 E0 h5 Z- @7 U" a7 X Feeling small and insignificant
! ^/ M6 v* e6 I: u9 r But ultimately recognizing
. i! |. ^$ n5 X$ @ D/ D1 c' r That who we are meant to be' C2 K& ]+ F2 ^- U
Can never be measured in isolation# l9 N% ]6 d5 {( |" y* m2 p! ^ K
on a path into ourselves.
" R+ |, J4 s. h& g6 ?1 f
% Z- h! G' r9 \% ~6 z It is true then:( I6 f" _3 q! P! z+ h
Our everlasting future
" l3 U* E7 `2 P; I* T Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles
8 Z; ]: Q$ h: K4 G0 v# W) | Into the pond of life4 M- `2 b( J+ P4 y3 t( I6 y) U
Creating ripples
( [4 _3 z, Y0 x! I that leave unique mark on our world " c+ }8 ?& P; q2 F% P4 E2 I* n: c
Not because of thoughts
% l4 G& J7 y- q3 A not because of well meaning plans b" c2 ~, X0 F/ o
But because of actions. 2 x m ~/ l; Z6 p. ~
: U8 T" \+ I" G. g
Our life's prayers our answered* J; Y" g- Y5 A, n
Because even the smallest pebble : a4 B# B* d; I, x* e" [
No matter how seemingly insignificant ~/ R; `5 F4 b
Changes the course of the lives+ K1 s6 O( X7 G* f
Of those we touch.?
& w! W# e' H! k, T9 B 0 F2 x5 h0 Z4 L3 M: _' H, t8 W1 W7 G
And when the icy winds of death& L$ w$ J' W1 u
beckon our lasting attention) E. m4 T5 h7 m! w
We will gently leave this life + {- P6 f- U( P) ^0 t: _! S
With the knowledge that , s2 E9 C' A; @# e3 O- I
because of that one pebble 2 j4 o0 J+ V1 I8 u4 X
The world will never be the same.2 S6 f1 k: ]1 w! G
9 |( M+ P0 l3 D; a! G
And then we have heaven …2 S5 a- Y+ [( z) i. |
2 H( R8 i3 c; f# }& ]2 B& U' Z- [ Ross Rosenberg* Q7 M: T* t/ q
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