 鲜花( 0)  鸡蛋( 0)
|
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.
% t2 E7 {1 e+ A7 Q0 J# S * v {7 z" h, P4 Q3 y
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 j6 w& v: ^, A m . [1 ~% N0 \' S- V: a$ t9 c
Heaven9 ]; S+ T6 z9 p, U/ X4 f
The pebble is worn smooth 0 H7 B1 r. W8 j; X) a
Made small over time
8 g' Q8 l2 X5 [; Q& i) u A product of a cataclysmic force of nature! C5 l5 X* N% o, g' w8 u
A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock; U: k F" q. ]1 N
An accidental offspring of a boulder
, `% l2 N( W# x) ]( | But just a very small stone.
3 M/ X4 h; b0 a, d( ^
3 Q/ D2 Q1 y; Z* ~8 M The pebble's place in our world , w" |5 \0 o5 Y- }. U
Is neither understood nor appreciated0 u: J* q# q6 r: i
But when thrown into a glassy calm pond ! o( T, N" v7 ?; Z
Its insignificance is transformed
9 V$ ?" p3 \ I2 J- o5 n7 N8 t Its meaning and purpose is unleashed.4 R {6 ^5 T" A8 z
/ u: X. Q6 a; V
The instant the pebble kisses the pond
3 `% }# ?$ V8 R# B Its signature of concentric ripples + }$ ?, d3 K! M- z: Y
Spiral outwards
: D9 o1 N- F& ^; X Moving far beyond itself.
. c' W* }1 b/ X: A* W! G% |# H3 f Gently affecting everything in its wake
$ i4 S! u+ O/ }2 B0 V8 t' j Forever altering the smooth placid surface.3 g: m/ S/ K8 H& Q' |
2 |' d3 [% s- x7 N The pebble creates its worth and meaning ( L0 p! P) k% J9 B# d/ `- ?: r6 p! @
By unleashing its unimagined power? * }, O9 x) N! V2 @' @
Into a dueling force of action and reaction
2 ?8 Q2 T0 H6 x/ ~5 m Creating karmic energy
- {% w1 v u% P7 C2 M+ v Producing lasting and fluid impressions.2 N3 H2 X C4 l: g- f( z
/ M% l- s b1 J4 X: }
Aren't we all pebbles?, K- g8 \& o7 ~: @$ ~
Feeling small and insignificant; @, P" O+ w7 p& [0 W" T }& K$ G3 ?
But ultimately recognizing
9 r: _( ]8 w3 {. S& G That who we are meant to be
( t2 R/ m8 ~2 I9 b4 U* P { Can never be measured in isolation! g m. I* A" Y6 Z# s' W) c
on a path into ourselves.
" `2 `! d8 s+ i1 P: f u - _$ [4 ]& t( I4 n
It is true then:/ ^& w) J4 \2 s
Our everlasting future 6 B4 K$ P: M0 \' }8 {4 J8 U
Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles8 d1 T6 a! M$ ?: d: U) e
Into the pond of life
$ {" O0 Z6 |; h% C$ S Creating ripples
# z/ r# \7 a d$ F8 ~0 A" e6 X that leave unique mark on our world J+ }0 F. U9 E$ D9 X) \ s, F
Not because of thoughts * t0 `. l2 }1 M6 `( S
not because of well meaning plans- W) [1 ?1 W4 v
But because of actions. 2 P% Q% k, x( _
" ]* X9 c/ N4 P7 e' v" ]
Our life's prayers our answered
! d* K* s) X6 i1 h v/ d Because even the smallest pebble
) ]: h u9 C& y* \3 ] No matter how seemingly insignificant
: l$ _+ ?, a2 f( g1 V0 p Changes the course of the lives
) o% k& x4 x0 [) y! [" a5 B* O Of those we touch.?
7 _' t6 R- c$ t" }6 x! X2 u4 h % o/ Z& o5 `( |* H$ R
And when the icy winds of death
W. q+ z7 }" c5 t3 ?% k: j beckon our lasting attention
, r, O/ Y* b7 n, _3 y3 p5 [ We will gently leave this life , u: ?+ }3 c% w5 L5 c+ X; W7 d% u. Z
With the knowledge that ) E/ g1 J7 h$ U1 O
because of that one pebble - O/ Q5 @1 T: [# e; ^0 J
The world will never be the same.& L! O( g8 k, ^ F" ]1 x3 |* t
- B4 i+ q& k" b( L q$ J7 e4 m And then we have heaven …4 S5 O" M+ R6 S: [/ {* J
4 v1 j3 N- E, N" E" T& q Ross Rosenberg: g4 C, U1 i# `9 q( ^
8/18/03 |
|
狗仔卡
发表于 2010-3-12 06:36
提升卡
置顶卡
沉默卡
喧嚣卡
变色卡
显身卡