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Heaven

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发表于 2010-3-12 06:36 | 显示全部楼层 |阅读模式
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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. # x7 F" n! ^% [! z% u
3 H7 v: E8 o# q) W1 P. W
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.
4 x7 f6 K; G8 Y( {
8 t. V# c  r7 N! M" ?. L Heaven1 O$ i! j$ s# S3 v' m) r7 h
The pebble is worn smooth
: e. Y9 e9 r7 \3 V- |$ m1 y: l Made small over time
, K5 {- C' n$ L0 m A product of a cataclysmic force of nature! |, e' w% _7 I* n1 U0 a
A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock* U  ]9 Q9 \4 i7 e3 y
An accidental offspring of a boulder
: T( S" e4 g9 |: U6 }4 M But just a very small stone. 1 `' n+ I* c" ?

2 m7 N3 n! }- Y* }1 r The pebble's place in our world
+ V) g; t4 s. @& R; W! { Is neither understood nor appreciated
; Z, C, v/ ?! {: Q But when thrown into a glassy calm pond
+ r8 ]/ i; n9 v+ e Its insignificance is transformed) J9 w  N! S4 K, g- t) p9 [; d
Its meaning and purpose is unleashed.
: U5 o! P' M. W" d, _, x; c ( N! e8 N% D6 P7 J& d
The instant the pebble kisses the pond
; u* j* W. o2 |7 j, h% t9 q Its signature of concentric ripples
$ J& \; `5 z5 D# @! O/ {6 \- X: x Spiral outwards   v% F9 W( h% ?
Moving far beyond itself.
4 y) F6 M6 b/ ]( n, ` Gently affecting everything in its wake% v! j) U7 n# r9 c0 h2 V
Forever altering the smooth placid surface.* ]3 b; L) J, X2 v) Q) D; b# Y: p

3 {) A4 ~7 Z  l6 ~ The pebble creates its worth and meaning 7 O9 ]$ Z. Q4 p
By unleashing its unimagined power?   f" R/ b/ P; v% Y3 q
Into a dueling force of action and reaction
, G: L) @3 G& x; G: k Creating karmic energy  Z* A$ A# F6 k% U( L
Producing lasting and fluid impressions.
8 C* m; Z: z1 S
! ?; j$ \! b% P7 O! y  i% x Aren't we all pebbles?6 e5 l6 C1 \3 A) n- s) w' U( t: u$ I
Feeling small and insignificant
% D* l% O2 M$ v6 P6 v But ultimately recognizing ' l9 \$ [1 z9 E; N2 R) q3 ~5 Z4 d
That who we are meant to be
2 {! ]7 g( R  E; u) m" Z8 `1 m  Z Can never be measured in isolation1 G! I! S5 Q: X- s6 g
on a path into ourselves.
& Q+ \# \  m8 ]; ~ 5 Z* i  g6 `: }! N4 p& I* M. r, K
It is true then:. }6 a* j7 y& R: g- ~9 Q1 O
Our everlasting future # Y. t. f. D( f
Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles+ y. ]% u3 |7 b; N- b  C
Into the pond of life& t0 d2 v" t- F+ |! b- F* O  [
Creating ripples
) ~& d$ n3 X; p: \7 r9 C that leave unique mark on our world
$ R) i! t2 O5 F, _1 h! P$ Y Not because of thoughts " g6 U2 _5 b6 F
not because of well meaning plans" R8 x! M1 g! Z; j9 x5 U6 W7 p7 A
But because of actions. : y) k* ~8 W6 X+ n5 x  q
$ X( U. x% `# @4 h/ Z# C* t
Our life's prayers our answered3 F3 |2 R: ?/ W7 f2 h
Because even the smallest pebble 6 c4 `0 A: v; a; U3 L" d4 }3 W
No matter how seemingly insignificant: s5 L, o3 ^4 ^- Q! _4 H
Changes the course of the lives4 @" ?9 G) A& y$ w  `: Z8 }
Of those we touch.? 6 }: ^# y, E$ T( |. O! |
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And when the icy winds of death
" F( p5 V% k8 V, _* _) k beckon our lasting attention
- B/ w2 J! K- s  \& ]. I We will gently leave this life
: B# b  c" ~: M With the knowledge that " I0 {: S3 `, \/ D. b6 }* s+ Z: v
because of that one pebble
) s- e) X6 y1 N+ z' j5 u% ~ The world will never be the same.# J% j4 {# }' @, ~2 y9 r

2 o: E3 e4 \9 M7 W1 ^* G' v2 i And then we have heaven …3 g; Z( b4 D, L7 ~) }0 ^' ]

  T7 w5 ^/ B7 n Ross Rosenberg( ?& q+ W# u3 Q" y" E- f5 D
8/18/03
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