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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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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- u, z- Y) _- k3 `+ T
The pebble is worn smooth 2 M1 ^# W8 e/ r; M: R6 H: H
Made small over time
3 } E5 s9 ~- l2 S A product of a cataclysmic force of nature" ?: b5 I. J1 g8 K
A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock
+ e% ~! t& Y' W& t1 ? An accidental offspring of a boulder
0 O9 D1 r8 _2 X& ^/ l But just a very small stone. 2 b; M& T1 J. e" J/ a- q: T x
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The pebble's place in our world 9 Z- j0 j, N$ X9 p
Is neither understood nor appreciated
/ w8 u9 w% |. W2 |- r But when thrown into a glassy calm pond
0 l* V8 D2 D+ S& q5 b Its insignificance is transformed" g. N7 O, G/ j8 r
Its meaning and purpose is unleashed.4 a0 b" w; ]% }6 d1 F, H/ G
$ e1 J; D7 M f7 |% ?9 \ The instant the pebble kisses the pond
% X6 g5 y q* Q5 e( ] Its signature of concentric ripples . E! t) s. t. m/ H7 u5 m
Spiral outwards
2 @8 t" z* \9 E* p% Q Moving far beyond itself.- [2 z, X1 {5 N+ ]( V
Gently affecting everything in its wake
) V- y+ u! C2 } Forever altering the smooth placid surface.
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& M# l/ i6 i8 b0 ^) M& ] The pebble creates its worth and meaning
, S& R5 d# i" x3 L By unleashing its unimagined power? & d6 h, @: F3 w
Into a dueling force of action and reaction
: W+ X( u3 I/ K0 R6 \ Creating karmic energy
/ W) Q, X' J, g& S* ?( F B Producing lasting and fluid impressions.$ u: z0 T' z7 K) }# a
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Aren't we all pebbles?) x6 q5 M* ^ n9 E
Feeling small and insignificant: l* q& R" Z% `' b
But ultimately recognizing + ?; s. r3 U$ P, [/ x8 \
That who we are meant to be/ m+ g# [ Q h6 M) L0 K
Can never be measured in isolation
- C: \" E K; m, O on a path into ourselves.. q3 w0 b$ A2 x% z& r
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It is true then:
! r% a6 N, r0 D% | Our everlasting future + J- A4 G" r% s3 F5 V
Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles+ q$ @* Q" y+ P3 E" V- {+ Q
Into the pond of life/ `; {# k; j/ h8 L
Creating ripples 7 m9 k! _4 d& Z T0 v& C
that leave unique mark on our world # ]- i# L0 Z- K* }0 i) e& Q
Not because of thoughts
& l' ]6 m6 _* @9 @+ y, e- P not because of well meaning plans& ^9 C7 P# t. e# F K) q1 ^' W# X
But because of actions. " Z5 w% D! C5 j& k- o
& s6 t& [0 B4 k Our life's prayers our answered( q' m' n' F, n* ]% y# m
Because even the smallest pebble
! k+ ?+ D, z; L* p4 S6 f No matter how seemingly insignificant" f0 o# |: [& Q0 B! w* Y8 n7 }
Changes the course of the lives8 ?7 R; S" L7 @' T
Of those we touch.? 9 d7 e( L' W/ p: j6 t4 l
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And when the icy winds of death9 K4 D+ ~$ o4 D( E
beckon our lasting attention
2 T4 K$ F0 i- L% d We will gently leave this life * j: z6 |& ]; p$ f5 Z& d7 N N i3 P
With the knowledge that : @+ Z1 w% H4 E" m; L) G, k7 V0 f
because of that one pebble 9 M! i' o* ^9 D4 B8 s2 D+ e2 S2 _
The world will never be the same.
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And then we have heaven …* ?2 ]+ F/ {2 ]4 x9 ]4 ^
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Ross Rosenberg4 L4 V1 c* z5 l
8/18/03 |
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发表于 2010-3-12 06:36
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