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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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5 ~6 c* r$ L* g L/ |5 D 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
9 ]- w# \3 y K1 X E$ |" k8 t The pebble is worn smooth 3 I8 f& _( y% M! P
Made small over time# f' f( ^# X# m1 e8 y
A product of a cataclysmic force of nature
$ f+ O# f7 {, R) c4 ~ A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock
, W/ ?' j" ]/ o: d- O An accidental offspring of a boulder
5 z& M+ ]( U' F: b But just a very small stone. " R, i9 ~/ o, m- X( o
# a2 q7 ?$ b$ }4 J The pebble's place in our world 8 @0 _) y: h. }' l& Y
Is neither understood nor appreciated+ | C+ b, C: `/ R, I
But when thrown into a glassy calm pond . ]8 G: g z+ o5 V, _; l) O
Its insignificance is transformed/ M/ @) U/ u' `( J- P3 |8 B; o
Its meaning and purpose is unleashed.9 p- d$ x% F! x+ S0 x- M+ p/ s
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The instant the pebble kisses the pond# H* V2 Q( T( u# w% i% H% g! G
Its signature of concentric ripples
2 g# H- k- Q) Y5 c! T" f2 K: L' x; `& s Spiral outwards ; ` z9 R+ _/ ^6 @" C2 n
Moving far beyond itself.
* ?2 b- ~& \5 y* u0 e" Q% Y- |- m Gently affecting everything in its wake
' Z2 x- q* @! U8 }$ { Forever altering the smooth placid surface.
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The pebble creates its worth and meaning ! t( u5 ~- U( n9 R; O# C' n9 {
By unleashing its unimagined power? - Y! C: ?+ L3 B" d; e
Into a dueling force of action and reaction
3 d, \$ l1 _! {. M* ?9 b Creating karmic energy
" x9 m, k' L/ F, f. ]8 ~ Producing lasting and fluid impressions. D; J$ {* W) S" g8 H ]
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Aren't we all pebbles?% I; {* V7 T0 ?
Feeling small and insignificant
' q0 ?+ r- D3 O* M- _ But ultimately recognizing 3 p) {% N7 f: X1 |. @
That who we are meant to be
6 o! q A! k9 E) x( y5 B Can never be measured in isolation" p5 i( \6 B8 @! v: b8 K
on a path into ourselves.) }- [% }( F' Y5 c+ t; N1 c
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It is true then:
9 m! E8 \1 C! L* K9 X; o" N* Z Our everlasting future & k' ~. n; b) S1 N) ~0 s0 c
Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles
1 j/ } I5 l3 V: ?9 J L Into the pond of life
+ }: h1 }# l$ n5 x. V$ S Creating ripples # b: `8 s( s. s+ d
that leave unique mark on our world 2 l$ Z# Z6 Q# _) G: c
Not because of thoughts % F0 \! g+ w3 Y$ x1 P) b8 {3 M' @
not because of well meaning plans5 C1 z7 z) N! y; A! b4 {
But because of actions. % X& M% ~9 }) o5 w0 ~
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Our life's prayers our answered2 I2 O% A! {/ V! F' `' f7 Y8 T
Because even the smallest pebble 3 l) q9 B3 t$ z7 j
No matter how seemingly insignificant) C/ F; U/ V9 b. j, ~, o
Changes the course of the lives
4 A x6 [" }4 n6 j! ~' m9 | Of those we touch.?
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8 C) w/ a1 a: t" G8 u And when the icy winds of death9 B7 P) c* f/ [& q: M4 ~
beckon our lasting attention
& D* u2 F4 |4 i! u, C& S2 i We will gently leave this life T) J3 T+ n4 C5 W; e
With the knowledge that 6 O5 F( ?" U4 }
because of that one pebble
H' y9 c! s. Z The world will never be the same.6 R1 ? h0 K% i/ b
9 R" W; a& [8 E+ e6 ]$ H7 p And then we have heaven …
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Ross Rosenberg. ]) A$ O8 g1 u' M7 G5 ]$ Y. O; ~
8/18/03 |
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