 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. + f/ I( h% x4 M' j
+ s( R* w. U. T, _6 L0 P2 ~ 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.' @( c5 T' i2 D, s1 d8 |
# M5 s; @7 Y* J- j+ E Heaven- [; [! A6 E6 u! W, c3 ^. {
The pebble is worn smooth
" M, v* i# o1 K; Z1 _$ _: [ Made small over time
# x) F' V$ c6 J# }1 W A product of a cataclysmic force of nature
! S R, X8 x% p. M) E A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock
/ b" q+ k7 k q- { An accidental offspring of a boulder
2 A* @* ?. y( h" p But just a very small stone.
% V1 q1 j" M7 _1 a4 o; w* x
) F; W; o- d# q F- f The pebble's place in our world * o) U. ?9 J2 w% G
Is neither understood nor appreciated
# I; h9 m" [4 k1 r2 }/ E But when thrown into a glassy calm pond
3 \6 g1 p4 s' N* T# T/ g Its insignificance is transformed
& l0 H( m# {4 R: y( d8 x: | Its meaning and purpose is unleashed.
! K' q1 F9 `# n$ q- M6 |
2 |5 n) J3 n1 A! K" U- t The instant the pebble kisses the pond! r4 M+ b2 E" C- R
Its signature of concentric ripples
: | P( A( y( A5 p$ j$ M5 E( [: [1 X Spiral outwards # X E& o3 s: C9 M
Moving far beyond itself.
2 W/ B ]" S: O" ^* c; t Gently affecting everything in its wake8 j2 I# x; e% }! a$ d
Forever altering the smooth placid surface.- Y& D; J9 v! v' W
9 W$ H0 E/ O5 O1 j9 x: A- N The pebble creates its worth and meaning
4 f% v8 a6 _2 x4 o, s, ^ By unleashing its unimagined power? - ~8 `2 h8 [) |# b$ A3 ^: ?
Into a dueling force of action and reaction) e4 @: q) M; H( y* A! q6 t# i! R, N
Creating karmic energy, X3 `; N9 j* O) h* E
Producing lasting and fluid impressions.3 v. B; D3 [# s: F* q
! q' ? ~6 {2 o9 G# h
Aren't we all pebbles?
, e r9 e4 `6 z4 _/ q5 _ Feeling small and insignificant
. I$ K! {2 u- z5 |$ l, C+ D; @ But ultimately recognizing
: L' X6 P7 [% A That who we are meant to be1 |& ^% A+ o; @' B! l
Can never be measured in isolation$ P$ g* C0 q0 _3 d8 S) k
on a path into ourselves.
; F6 `# p( K- T8 T : x- S$ D8 m( a0 a4 @2 Z
It is true then:$ u+ Y- ?, X+ W& c6 d
Our everlasting future / `2 F6 s$ z- _" p
Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles5 s" E; Z( c- U3 u+ @
Into the pond of life
5 X4 b- ~2 J2 S O# N Creating ripples
+ F1 f$ l l, c9 g1 d that leave unique mark on our world & H8 _6 T& m9 [1 b8 e
Not because of thoughts ) X' T( ?: z1 L; K5 {/ L+ Q {: Z
not because of well meaning plans5 l0 i3 e' ?4 `( e2 K$ D
But because of actions. ( H6 n+ z+ V' A6 U4 ~
, B& D& H, Y* [: E Our life's prayers our answered
3 f ^" a+ F9 v- O5 B Because even the smallest pebble ' t3 O' q% F6 b N/ F, k. G: J
No matter how seemingly insignificant
1 k; R2 n$ A4 C7 [* I Changes the course of the lives3 a" d& F% [8 _- \" V# O
Of those we touch.? 2 e! C# h5 k/ T
K9 |, R# N7 L, l6 T4 n$ X
And when the icy winds of death/ z% ]; ~, v7 `- T/ Q
beckon our lasting attention
2 \+ t- } u; h2 H" N We will gently leave this life
5 u0 s/ Y; q9 K With the knowledge that
" j) R% p- a& O" I& X because of that one pebble 5 v& Z# t4 N3 w9 }) W
The world will never be the same.
% `6 C- \7 P+ a7 u' [- a
8 T0 J5 w& W! ?+ X And then we have heaven …6 [" |. B9 n+ T1 q- c0 ^" K5 Z
) h1 O- W/ }! p6 d- R1 k. O Ross Rosenberg' D( j6 Y- P7 ]5 r9 l
8/18/03 |
|