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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.
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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.( Y8 H  m0 G0 o# s4 P
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Heaven
+ P' E" }7 D1 e' B0 p The pebble is worn smooth
5 j3 A& X- C3 p9 e  e. L Made small over time+ u0 `' ?- ^3 l: w) Y+ w  N1 \% b$ Z
A product of a cataclysmic force of nature
* L" e! R1 ^* s& Z* M2 J5 u A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock, Z, p) e8 f9 m+ ~
An accidental offspring of a boulder ( p, ~4 |8 ]. W8 s& L# C5 c; u3 I
But just a very small stone. 5 n! Z+ k9 B! {6 `* Y
- m. i  }4 b" X2 U
The pebble's place in our world
$ w& Q/ G5 v; e$ z0 ]! X+ f0 q Is neither understood nor appreciated. l0 y5 G1 U/ U: @$ v- ?, J3 S
But when thrown into a glassy calm pond
9 H+ Z" S; j9 y/ l, N Its insignificance is transformed6 [% B3 K2 r; x# P
Its meaning and purpose is unleashed.# Q# E+ c3 b! ^# z4 f
4 e" H" T+ w8 h/ z. p; A
The instant the pebble kisses the pond
- Q" D' L8 ~" P" _ Its signature of concentric ripples
) \0 W" ?( b. q# a Spiral outwards % @1 i7 v1 X6 E) a' ~' }( e
Moving far beyond itself.. R/ |# D, X* E/ o+ m6 R' L: X
Gently affecting everything in its wake& B6 p# c/ n% u( X8 \& t0 a
Forever altering the smooth placid surface.6 r: X; \; _4 ^# g* K

' N& t0 g0 t0 h# M& e5 W The pebble creates its worth and meaning
$ p2 @* |! ^4 k" Q By unleashing its unimagined power? & u0 O7 C0 l7 J* v
Into a dueling force of action and reaction
: K5 L2 y1 Y, q) a Creating karmic energy) O+ R! h" X9 P* n3 ]- t
Producing lasting and fluid impressions.
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- i$ z3 U0 L5 ?9 A& i" s1 j8 T Aren't we all pebbles?
' ~; m& U' ^0 x# I- V5 _ Feeling small and insignificant
. h. G4 |6 t) m* m But ultimately recognizing
* w/ x! I  U, I0 z That who we are meant to be7 B) T; h# N9 \- I" u2 `0 v- u4 u
Can never be measured in isolation
3 l6 G$ N6 ^6 ^1 g' c on a path into ourselves.6 [# H' v. v) u7 t
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It is true then:
* W4 l' t( x, U* i6 Y Our everlasting future
- g; o# K- V3 w) a1 Q/ u4 G" a Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles: Q3 |0 U. I3 P1 N- U# Y
Into the pond of life7 T$ `( U( N$ v# d* ]
Creating ripples 9 x3 N) J, F% T* v
that leave unique mark on our world
, h/ |2 Y: C9 x+ G) Y( u Not because of thoughts
* j- }( u! h  \% R( U0 e; v) m not because of well meaning plans+ G5 t" l9 f( [, t8 F
But because of actions. - G( g3 R% v: o$ N$ y

: L& x* O% b: ~/ z/ | Our life's prayers our answered1 W1 C; Y$ u& E: j- E; L
Because even the smallest pebble " z) D& ~, x( X# H+ z
No matter how seemingly insignificant$ }" Q! K2 W8 D, e; a3 e
Changes the course of the lives
& J0 ~* e, S" R4 j- b; R Of those we touch.?
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And when the icy winds of death
2 T( P- l  Q* _9 @* c% j. w% w beckon our lasting attention
# u  `5 H' ^: i; ^- l+ k4 z+ ? We will gently leave this life
; @; r1 ~3 U: D! ^' Y With the knowledge that & a& h  {0 |$ d& v- u
because of that one pebble
8 d& `1 v, \- Y; P' q/ ?* n6 F The world will never be the same.
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And then we have heaven …
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- c( {6 e# H' q3 B Ross Rosenberg( p/ i3 ^' y! n
8/18/03
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