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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.' ]6 ^1 j1 S `7 S7 _2 P/ W) b
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Heaven' K( L/ D$ [( d; j" w
The pebble is worn smooth
7 i. O$ H/ C4 _0 R& E Made small over time
: u" [8 P* v* K/ F) B9 m2 V* w A product of a cataclysmic force of nature) l8 w# F) A' f
A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock
/ C1 @7 k0 X) x2 a An accidental offspring of a boulder $ u3 z8 T( _4 W) V( S8 T
But just a very small stone.
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8 w/ j* K+ \! ]& O! `3 k The pebble's place in our world
. J! E7 o* `# @6 ^ }* S( m* \ Is neither understood nor appreciated
8 G. o0 `" _6 h But when thrown into a glassy calm pond . }1 ~7 x; a1 R5 d% ?8 Z
Its insignificance is transformed6 d p" ^- v6 F4 s9 `
Its meaning and purpose is unleashed." W6 O- |+ j/ e1 Q' w' E% `6 N6 S
, ^& f8 q* \! E1 \; F. Q) o The instant the pebble kisses the pond
8 d) P/ x$ C- r. A0 G Its signature of concentric ripples / V7 G' T% t2 w7 U
Spiral outwards
. d9 X8 I! i6 E) ~ Moving far beyond itself.' D; f1 B% p* p: ]3 E# F* p
Gently affecting everything in its wake1 ~( C+ s9 B. I0 h% @# f7 b" T$ Q0 E
Forever altering the smooth placid surface.
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& I; `( z+ d" W5 i The pebble creates its worth and meaning % H8 J! H9 I1 A) ` M
By unleashing its unimagined power? 3 h; }2 _$ e/ U6 Y4 q% n# H; x
Into a dueling force of action and reaction
# V0 ]& W) p- X& j Creating karmic energy0 U# r$ Z' F& V. S
Producing lasting and fluid impressions.
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0 F9 h5 i; O* i9 D8 b Aren't we all pebbles?% h/ Y% G% U! w; z6 c0 }7 G) N. q
Feeling small and insignificant8 R6 @( N- z- D6 `; H' n( ^
But ultimately recognizing
3 b9 \" L" S. Y That who we are meant to be8 d0 ?8 B( U( H0 N2 b7 W
Can never be measured in isolation
& U& Z; i- @9 k' _/ E) L# C; `5 b on a path into ourselves./ Z1 K7 x+ y2 s" v+ ^) P
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It is true then:
e+ z" |: ?5 N& z0 W Our everlasting future ! B$ O% x# i5 E) q4 J+ @
Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles) Z! r& F0 c) D
Into the pond of life1 _: [" l( E9 O* _: N4 M
Creating ripples
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Not because of thoughts / i5 O6 y* p: h$ o. P* Z
not because of well meaning plans9 q0 x: ^2 a% ~+ w6 z' Q+ A* K7 ^1 J
But because of actions.
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% a: L3 M$ T( q" L8 Y Our life's prayers our answered
' | q" d7 e2 Z \ Because even the smallest pebble
6 [8 y# D2 W$ W0 ?% Q No matter how seemingly insignificant; T f1 Q0 y: a) t* j
Changes the course of the lives
0 m5 n$ B* F0 @% m6 o6 |- ?( Z Of those we touch.? 4 K8 l0 ?& @# v8 p+ ^) u3 d6 x9 Z
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And when the icy winds of death( F& D+ f% g: E t3 e% z
beckon our lasting attention
% Y! F2 T: k/ W* g5 b We will gently leave this life
. D* K! w' c' B$ s; o With the knowledge that / }1 L) A b4 x1 I/ u
because of that one pebble
3 u J: v5 i6 x1 o/ @ The world will never be the same.' G0 f V9 K0 A; t4 ?* I# g
- z- D: X5 V- ]' t) M9 A' ~ And then we have heaven …6 U3 }, u5 N" c9 `
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Ross Rosenberg
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发表于 2010-3-12 06:36
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