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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. 8 o5 Z% x6 Q5 H3 a2 B/ y5 B* l+ x
. t( J8 r% X4 p5 \ 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.( j# }2 l ]9 W* \! c( }7 j
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Heaven- T% E) u6 d6 y$ Y! n- ]
The pebble is worn smooth 6 g6 x& o& Y6 T: Z _" ^ |
Made small over time
4 e# ]+ Q% g; t6 T A product of a cataclysmic force of nature4 \3 H; F; ]% c6 G# Z
A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock3 z* o0 h$ y- H* X+ U0 y
An accidental offspring of a boulder
1 v, u9 w8 n2 a2 o But just a very small stone. & N) u- |' M( x& x, s
/ o" z" `# D# ?3 d; J! F2 E6 B The pebble's place in our world 9 o8 D% { d' D; y, r# A
Is neither understood nor appreciated+ P/ ?6 v9 J+ H2 f! r1 @
But when thrown into a glassy calm pond
& R, P1 M' j& L0 | Its insignificance is transformed# Z- b4 A0 `6 ^- i7 b: u! m
Its meaning and purpose is unleashed.
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The instant the pebble kisses the pond
v8 }4 y* a+ a# { Its signature of concentric ripples
' V1 c# E& W+ X Spiral outwards
; U0 \% l5 _% r: P% T! `1 A2 O, j) k Moving far beyond itself.. ?1 b M! x8 N ]. h* B f
Gently affecting everything in its wake
3 R, ~% Z# A0 y) H) s Forever altering the smooth placid surface.
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The pebble creates its worth and meaning
$ A; C& d$ E I- n$ D3 m* I By unleashing its unimagined power?
8 g2 ` n; o! B- }8 x8 B Into a dueling force of action and reaction( w7 E7 H: {) ?: @5 c8 b i7 {
Creating karmic energy
3 ^ k& l4 R- l: A6 w Producing lasting and fluid impressions.
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5 b5 M/ H2 u) O$ n5 P& W Aren't we all pebbles?0 {6 O- J% Z P0 ?
Feeling small and insignificant% r) C g. F6 G+ U$ c
But ultimately recognizing x6 i0 m; W) I( G$ n
That who we are meant to be9 ^* j2 A1 T: |4 {! h2 `" j% L
Can never be measured in isolation- R: I+ F5 I5 N/ U# Q
on a path into ourselves.
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It is true then:- k: R! s6 A2 ]3 x+ l
Our everlasting future
1 V) [: n) s6 l9 M0 R Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles
6 S3 B" J. p' s8 ?; ] Into the pond of life
3 i$ B1 w* H1 H H+ U3 X2 f Creating ripples 3 u0 r6 w6 V! Y9 }8 J1 B' w- N. A3 I
that leave unique mark on our world
& r* d0 h6 f- A3 F" Y Not because of thoughts
k& }+ |! z# t not because of well meaning plans; F5 D1 c+ P# T3 `6 \
But because of actions. / W( V a I- P r$ u8 N' F r V
% J( B/ C6 U B8 z! s, K: x7 Z8 X! u Our life's prayers our answered
7 M+ c6 n) t- B1 i% _! q Because even the smallest pebble
2 ^5 B. k; Q, Z) n0 H! N7 G No matter how seemingly insignificant
+ H) d2 s+ K4 A4 [4 w2 X Changes the course of the lives5 ~# f! H) [& e" t
Of those we touch.?
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And when the icy winds of death' S% A6 }4 r. l3 j O1 z
beckon our lasting attention' z4 E5 u: ?$ C, I0 Q" J0 B
We will gently leave this life ) ?$ q# N( S; f& G. x
With the knowledge that - R6 U' b1 w# l" W
because of that one pebble ; G8 f1 U" [7 U3 a
The world will never be the same.
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And then we have heaven …) N) O5 h$ \" H" Y# d9 Q. N; K
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Ross Rosenberg
: E! K( J$ J2 q. W 8/18/03 |
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