 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.
C& |9 O1 o2 \8 \: u- |, V" m
3 F `; C; U8 w& j 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.% V+ H6 [9 n: r' `* B
2 E6 [: c- V! k. r9 B2 O. V; J
Heaven
! h3 m$ ^4 B' d The pebble is worn smooth
( T# a% g" P! P) L _ Made small over time
4 f0 s: m( I. S! T+ S. y3 ]+ A A product of a cataclysmic force of nature* t! p- x/ D/ w! n( X9 R5 W
A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock
# @* h# U- m9 n! e: a An accidental offspring of a boulder $ O2 W1 M1 J0 f. n* c9 b6 }
But just a very small stone.
5 i+ ` e4 {& `% v # k/ _3 S- Q( P3 l+ c
The pebble's place in our world ' _- q8 T2 [* o) b
Is neither understood nor appreciated
+ j7 k+ [! m- m! ^% }! P: l But when thrown into a glassy calm pond % N& w# f! J# F
Its insignificance is transformed# v5 H* L; [/ M2 g
Its meaning and purpose is unleashed.
0 Y( [! {5 R) k, { $ L! ~. E0 {0 ? l. [. T
The instant the pebble kisses the pond
1 X" I7 P/ `4 x$ j0 e B( G Its signature of concentric ripples
( c9 \: {6 n. s/ x, P# H2 E3 t Spiral outwards " C1 J7 \/ n0 K: g4 @9 Q* h- Y, ~. |
Moving far beyond itself.
+ Y/ @, c+ d- i7 L# b Gently affecting everything in its wake
4 E5 [+ x4 @' t s- W Forever altering the smooth placid surface.
/ ^. o' ?1 H% @ i, X3 N$ C 5 D6 m& _6 a' ~! U' n! P; k% i
The pebble creates its worth and meaning
/ E- |6 r' M/ K3 h' B P& ` By unleashing its unimagined power? : E! _/ d1 b) V+ _+ K5 L1 f. O4 { R
Into a dueling force of action and reaction; K1 i/ o+ `* b& ]- a0 J
Creating karmic energy
r R+ i% ]( v. u( r Producing lasting and fluid impressions.5 Z" D/ I8 s. L5 X% _
7 {7 p# K# T) R2 i& Y Aren't we all pebbles?* ?% X. E% a' h- S6 b# j
Feeling small and insignificant) n) r( T8 P( z/ N4 p
But ultimately recognizing . i D: a" x% b7 j' R
That who we are meant to be
& d2 _9 G2 ]( C8 b4 t: t Can never be measured in isolation
" I4 Y# k/ P5 _ Z) ~; @) G8 x' @ on a path into ourselves." R8 L, {7 q8 T: p% I: S3 r
* }( b/ k7 |0 ~ It is true then:
3 V O% H6 B% {0 v' j$ r/ y Our everlasting future 0 j" b4 {1 w0 b
Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles
1 ^0 h- h* b" V8 S4 w+ l Into the pond of life, R1 G, ~; S Y) E' |) i* {
Creating ripples ' D% j5 V3 [" z# H8 l
that leave unique mark on our world * d7 u$ Q S4 E" k3 y
Not because of thoughts # T. m2 \% E x4 Z
not because of well meaning plans5 J9 y) g w" ]
But because of actions. ! U+ F: s/ J, x8 i
+ y5 a8 L4 Q7 d* S! {3 [8 d) U Our life's prayers our answered
2 F5 r9 F/ ~" S5 n( p* c0 d! y Because even the smallest pebble
. y( c# ]+ f7 m9 B8 S2 g$ Y No matter how seemingly insignificant6 |# U+ x" _) Z4 G5 J
Changes the course of the lives- w+ {# @4 R: ]- B
Of those we touch.? ?# v4 S. W2 }' m" n
" }( U+ G# m6 U2 M+ m& W; s+ C
And when the icy winds of death) n: Y" P/ ?' S' E, R
beckon our lasting attention3 K _5 u$ j: S
We will gently leave this life 6 H8 l3 ~% I6 j2 H
With the knowledge that , {# D C" J1 A5 S; X
because of that one pebble
3 ~7 c$ F& Z, u The world will never be the same.
5 W% T/ n" i% v7 a " o: Q# s9 g0 e8 x
And then we have heaven …7 l& c2 u7 X. \! ~5 d( \
. ^7 N! l1 e# u9 d) `( O; Y/ \
Ross Rosenberg+ B7 V0 q5 t$ A" e! ]
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