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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. 8 Y7 J; ^6 i+ m) N
$ H$ k6 H4 A( X% {6 K+ Z 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.
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5 b# q" q: r6 n8 h% O# G4 G Heaven8 r7 d0 w7 T; B
The pebble is worn smooth
$ H& y: u- v9 ]! v0 v Made small over time
: g1 f* |2 ^7 a* ? A product of a cataclysmic force of nature
, @, v9 M+ S5 C \ A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock
6 G0 e1 R Z3 @8 b: Z An accidental offspring of a boulder 4 Y8 n9 k; W6 P- W5 P9 I
But just a very small stone. 6 ~: a! F; g0 `0 w0 T& P% Q0 H4 b
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The pebble's place in our world
- t# ?/ T) R8 o/ E: y- N. p% p E- [ Is neither understood nor appreciated
) {# t" e/ e. I5 Q3 L0 P. s" l But when thrown into a glassy calm pond & C( ^) J1 D/ G% y9 v/ F
Its insignificance is transformed
3 B! B) F7 Y" A6 @ Its meaning and purpose is unleashed.7 T6 h$ U! P9 Q& ?* I/ H
! a8 X& b" l( J9 `7 J The instant the pebble kisses the pond
# ]$ d4 M B) t" `& S Its signature of concentric ripples ' x, d' ]8 x- d X8 W: J+ x
Spiral outwards ) P0 C; p2 b; V0 Q% q; J% b
Moving far beyond itself.+ p3 a& C- E& K" D: O. U
Gently affecting everything in its wake, b" d& A! b/ z8 H, c m. {
Forever altering the smooth placid surface.
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- J8 z w- Q7 @2 Q" {' @! U) D! L( ? The pebble creates its worth and meaning 7 V' t% `+ |! F, j9 ]( z; c
By unleashing its unimagined power? ) o, q5 i' ~- Y" w2 |
Into a dueling force of action and reaction
" D/ x; O Q7 S) K. E0 h Creating karmic energy: i& v3 [6 a% B
Producing lasting and fluid impressions.
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Aren't we all pebbles?% r& Y) x! M7 r% ]! {! ^1 Y
Feeling small and insignificant/ o+ i6 m6 g& y E' w2 [) k; p
But ultimately recognizing 5 x) C: o$ K' T$ n1 J3 ]2 L
That who we are meant to be _( f( d' E5 J; Z/ g
Can never be measured in isolation
/ l6 L2 f( G) i8 y) F" U on a path into ourselves.
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% ^5 K$ v0 f. o5 | It is true then:+ d/ R2 o) v+ i; w3 F8 Y: D, C% I
Our everlasting future 7 |8 M, v7 ^: c& W8 k
Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles; y* m; g [- n' \/ A" }
Into the pond of life, v* B, t6 S' e
Creating ripples / ]% D% c. q/ p% @- E
that leave unique mark on our world
o5 D. J- v4 s. a) z; b/ c Not because of thoughts 4 x3 E7 i2 q" o
not because of well meaning plans ^ n5 `$ H0 C e1 A; G
But because of actions. ! `' _$ Q |1 h8 o d3 V4 S$ t
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Our life's prayers our answered. e0 V: d+ Q2 r( r3 u: J; A: v
Because even the smallest pebble
! p& F4 p! z c& E$ } No matter how seemingly insignificant" i* |, O# J' Y0 o
Changes the course of the lives$ K- O- {8 b% G
Of those we touch.?
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+ [; b7 {3 s2 n& Z And when the icy winds of death2 s" j8 ^! d, Z/ w* @0 B2 P( ^9 M
beckon our lasting attention2 m* f7 B+ Y8 v N
We will gently leave this life
6 o8 V* y2 X9 b0 ^" H With the knowledge that
! P( u# h9 g b& |& k1 R because of that one pebble - d# Z9 p' x- \' y- z) \& v
The world will never be the same.
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" ]; E4 k. o8 o' x- Y And then we have heaven …2 k( r5 D% H$ M4 Q
, {) M% s, Y; H7 P$ B3 W
Ross Rosenberg
5 E( L5 }# ? r' M6 r$ A 8/18/03 |
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发表于 2010-3-12 06:36
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