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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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; w3 |# x: `3 \! Y7 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.
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* F/ a* n8 l G T6 U( o6 G Heaven C& x8 ^& z* y) r2 {9 {6 q$ K, B& ^
The pebble is worn smooth
( {2 s4 `3 X1 K5 h+ Z! J Made small over time0 _( H: s/ [0 |) a* i
A product of a cataclysmic force of nature% n8 ~0 q, R; R. t- I6 e7 e" K
A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock
8 x+ L1 D$ H4 L. S% a9 m' g An accidental offspring of a boulder
1 t; b8 I: d7 `% E But just a very small stone.
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The pebble's place in our world " x% z# U8 G8 a; @5 r8 t$ V0 {
Is neither understood nor appreciated, V. x. x/ y* @6 ^ S
But when thrown into a glassy calm pond ) V" C3 B0 c6 g* m8 \
Its insignificance is transformed% r/ m4 Q( b# @9 m$ \7 h9 [, h
Its meaning and purpose is unleashed.
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The instant the pebble kisses the pond/ q! c0 n w, U: b$ H S9 |
Its signature of concentric ripples
. }" L+ A0 M# H Spiral outwards
5 B3 Y: {0 V W% d4 [ Moving far beyond itself., m4 B; R) |/ m" p/ f
Gently affecting everything in its wake A2 P$ L! P5 C6 H) e, s; b
Forever altering the smooth placid surface.
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The pebble creates its worth and meaning ! K. X! E0 B) Q' `! |! k2 z0 {4 O
By unleashing its unimagined power?
. V. P3 ^ O! ^ Into a dueling force of action and reaction! s! R% E! e" N+ G& u. X* R
Creating karmic energy
. M* r" }) M+ X7 u Producing lasting and fluid impressions.% j" G5 }/ x1 j/ K( b3 L L
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Aren't we all pebbles?+ s! b7 t3 D. i
Feeling small and insignificant( a% `9 j( [+ A7 `
But ultimately recognizing R/ `' ^6 ]+ `" o% l& e4 c+ I$ Y1 \
That who we are meant to be6 x; d# N, O8 e! y& _
Can never be measured in isolation
) t& v1 H N* C% z J: T on a path into ourselves.
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It is true then:. Y/ `" R" U8 y+ S4 p
Our everlasting future
$ F/ G) p" g7 o2 N* Q9 o Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles# M' p' m& m7 w( q, G
Into the pond of life
. ~ U: N! r7 o& p) L8 h1 }$ d Creating ripples
- X6 e. d) u8 T% S that leave unique mark on our world
# U: [ c8 t0 V$ l* J. } Not because of thoughts % F4 k- F7 v5 b, H# V
not because of well meaning plans6 @* L: a/ [% U
But because of actions. x: c. Z# m+ i0 `
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Our life's prayers our answered
% Z% S/ e$ I- k6 {! n; c2 \% v, [ Because even the smallest pebble . J/ E2 ]2 W" C1 v8 R
No matter how seemingly insignificant6 ^2 }1 r* E' o, M
Changes the course of the lives% k0 g9 m5 L3 k8 p5 y1 u) @5 J& A% r
Of those we touch.? ) x, }' `8 y1 ] J
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And when the icy winds of death
/ b3 L- m& Q6 ^6 ?4 }) e- p beckon our lasting attention5 P4 K) S! a. `2 V+ u0 K
We will gently leave this life
3 M' |7 P- @5 B With the knowledge that ! g P# N" f+ x" p, ]' ~
because of that one pebble
: N. d3 M6 y9 V, f" [ The world will never be the same.
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8 y9 q- R, S6 w+ s And then we have heaven …7 H( ]' w6 T1 [5 k! R; D
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Ross Rosenberg
. r1 }2 M$ |8 H1 _ 8/18/03 |
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