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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.# h* `) \! p# F m" p: @
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The pebble is worn smooth , H" g1 D6 b* `3 r" J0 Z
Made small over time, {1 s/ S; p* Z" M
A product of a cataclysmic force of nature! n, F* b3 ^. s: \2 L
A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock/ k7 M& O; o7 Q) y) F1 Q
An accidental offspring of a boulder & g. n7 P; ^& \, B
But just a very small stone. : H- w* [. E2 k; m
2 W/ C" e- g4 F! k" u The pebble's place in our world
$ ^. C. z5 \( B; r5 |. c Is neither understood nor appreciated
- d }$ `- s: ?( t But when thrown into a glassy calm pond
, S1 d9 f! `5 } Its insignificance is transformed
) w4 G2 V% i- X$ p' Q# l7 h: r) w Its meaning and purpose is unleashed.
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The instant the pebble kisses the pond. u+ n) v6 [$ N4 E( `
Its signature of concentric ripples & l Y- e8 O2 n) p x
Spiral outwards 1 H; |8 L" Z6 Y) Z8 ?
Moving far beyond itself.& v$ V7 \% n$ }7 |3 P0 c7 w
Gently affecting everything in its wake$ h4 c4 ^2 u2 m8 V7 ?2 Z2 G
Forever altering the smooth placid surface.4 x& N( J2 Z4 u' i
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The pebble creates its worth and meaning 9 o# {: F6 y6 T! H
By unleashing its unimagined power? - a7 N1 A( k: [: p7 ~3 U1 m7 c
Into a dueling force of action and reaction( p* L! I0 l, C3 M6 W
Creating karmic energy" V+ _; Y% B4 H4 y
Producing lasting and fluid impressions./ x( ~8 i: K/ Z
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Aren't we all pebbles?: e+ ^7 m/ l: j# J
Feeling small and insignificant% h% @) ~" h1 c# }* O
But ultimately recognizing
, C2 n5 x" _. g That who we are meant to be
& Y: p: q7 h8 V' L& U) h Can never be measured in isolation( g/ Z( k3 n, b
on a path into ourselves. V* j0 c- |# y" K; ?! ~& ]* f
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It is true then:8 R$ a& r) F) V
Our everlasting future
1 |3 T3 f5 _" p Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles8 l0 O6 G8 T3 ?# N/ p
Into the pond of life
! K# c" q& F" g S* v4 I Creating ripples 3 ?0 B) g7 r& U0 M8 u& [9 @
that leave unique mark on our world ~) Q" C! F* e4 [2 v
Not because of thoughts
" f$ W0 K1 m( p# J7 U not because of well meaning plans
2 P3 |/ P/ C+ P. L% a( p- f) |% K But because of actions.
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Our life's prayers our answered7 j) C, h- p* Y1 @5 m a0 h& {4 {1 \
Because even the smallest pebble
2 d7 ?( |* u8 m( T. @ No matter how seemingly insignificant
2 e3 |+ s% f2 D7 Q& r Changes the course of the lives
8 Y" U; h7 M) G Of those we touch.?
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And when the icy winds of death& u2 M) Y3 x- [) U$ u* w6 R& c: A& }
beckon our lasting attention
B0 g% E7 K' E We will gently leave this life , D- i/ y! V; p; l, q6 R5 a
With the knowledge that
( S# Z$ }- z* E1 a5 f because of that one pebble
; o0 @, W# v5 R. ]( D, v The world will never be the same.
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And then we have heaven …
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Ross Rosenberg: {0 |7 K [+ ^0 `+ W) N
8/18/03 |
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发表于 2010-3-12 06:36
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