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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.; M2 X6 f8 ]7 T
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Heaven- p: | f7 p- k$ d J
The pebble is worn smooth
3 l& {3 M" T' Z ? Made small over time5 d% J. ^8 Q) C) r; G$ `
A product of a cataclysmic force of nature% Z) K& V$ n4 i0 }5 A3 M& Q
A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock2 d. x+ p" I8 j" S8 a* Y' m1 J
An accidental offspring of a boulder
- ]/ t- J2 s h4 S/ }1 n7 \ But just a very small stone.
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1 q! h8 Y, [3 F$ N/ a5 i The pebble's place in our world y4 h2 b6 l$ Z- e) j8 A
Is neither understood nor appreciated. }! m+ F+ O4 ~& N8 c
But when thrown into a glassy calm pond
2 u) p+ F5 t# w [: x N Its insignificance is transformed
; l5 k/ _8 }: a% o; y& t' W2 h& W Its meaning and purpose is unleashed.& o+ F: i. B+ N$ F' I& e" A' f) ~
X% ]3 P7 [" s8 K, K2 C+ u The instant the pebble kisses the pond
9 s( c, k7 A& p+ c9 E% i7 m- E1 y Its signature of concentric ripples
- O8 ?5 j7 u6 a' j Spiral outwards " l2 v( _- x4 K: f
Moving far beyond itself.
7 d+ V3 v- f, \1 e5 E Gently affecting everything in its wake/ \" G T) y( g1 P/ A) D
Forever altering the smooth placid surface.
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5 b: ~# n2 x. o/ k The pebble creates its worth and meaning
/ D# F S2 J( G- X6 X) w# o By unleashing its unimagined power?
8 `6 L! m# K* s6 o+ ~" f5 y Into a dueling force of action and reaction4 |. n. P. f) ?3 f: U; X" e% X
Creating karmic energy
9 p1 T; W7 j$ B* y. T& n/ B% q6 ` Producing lasting and fluid impressions.
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Aren't we all pebbles?
7 |/ K& n% K: q9 Z6 [ o Feeling small and insignificant
& @4 |9 x4 r+ O3 D1 t But ultimately recognizing
& F+ K4 @+ R, c0 O That who we are meant to be" s1 |) e" ?' c; ^# E4 \" d- o4 ]
Can never be measured in isolation) \" r$ R2 s, j. e y2 _
on a path into ourselves.
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8 p7 Q# `! K, o( Z1 `# ? It is true then:' q5 b/ F0 V# A7 ^4 b
Our everlasting future
$ J& }" f& \/ V Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles1 ^7 i% k6 K$ J% Q- ~. t
Into the pond of life! T5 ]# _3 L" [6 V2 r, r
Creating ripples # K5 t2 D& \, V4 ^
that leave unique mark on our world / X+ P& r9 ^, A& r
Not because of thoughts * V2 X" B: Y N( T8 S% N$ O
not because of well meaning plans
5 A+ f- n- r% g But because of actions. 0 N* Y. s# {' h& I& L" R: r# j) `
4 X8 {( {4 b7 n0 \0 y. K% p& j Our life's prayers our answered( I' O }5 f& O$ s) ]
Because even the smallest pebble 0 J9 G: e% e& |# ~ I P
No matter how seemingly insignificant3 K% k6 u; d `. N6 r
Changes the course of the lives
9 W4 T5 r' D7 f% _8 ? Of those we touch.?
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$ s9 B) K$ n$ E. |. Z9 Y And when the icy winds of death
; T! R4 V1 N$ ]6 {+ h1 v9 [ beckon our lasting attention
6 B' k7 t1 C! x& S5 r We will gently leave this life
3 X/ K. k' h5 _) p# U Q4 m1 u* \ With the knowledge that
3 G- d, Z! s0 `* `: q- X8 S because of that one pebble
4 r& @6 z2 s/ _" x6 e The world will never be the same.
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6 D" n* l1 ]2 d' B% O And then we have heaven …5 y. d( M( y- X7 I) ]! x9 ?
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Ross Rosenberg* @7 @4 o+ E7 \7 j4 w
8/18/03 |
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发表于 2010-3-12 06:36
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