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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.
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( x& t0 |- d C% b4 o Heaven) J4 p) T6 Q" H* H+ T8 |
The pebble is worn smooth
' W# p) t5 o+ C% F) i Made small over time7 K/ L( l" D* e
A product of a cataclysmic force of nature% ?2 {4 N b; a4 i" j$ l
A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock6 V" x, I1 W% ]7 ^ s& T1 n
An accidental offspring of a boulder ) _% D+ O# g9 p% O M9 M9 W- L
But just a very small stone. 9 i; ~5 \( U( D2 E' R
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The pebble's place in our world
0 [, m$ t7 C) T/ [0 C d# [ Is neither understood nor appreciated8 ^; n: {# {7 q9 ~% `" a8 O& S
But when thrown into a glassy calm pond
, [$ }7 ~4 _5 \, o0 r+ N Its insignificance is transformed
: g j- k# Q& G3 K Its meaning and purpose is unleashed.' i1 V$ h/ I# S
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The instant the pebble kisses the pond
9 C) e# U, g# \& {0 B6 v Its signature of concentric ripples
* S E1 E% @( N' M& P' S6 }$ Z Spiral outwards
/ k$ z: ^- h" N5 Z4 p" U Moving far beyond itself.9 ^1 N! ^2 ?% v1 H7 F
Gently affecting everything in its wake, M6 w" r7 f5 O1 ^% t! k2 z D
Forever altering the smooth placid surface.$ t, N6 L' J: x8 G. i
$ q9 }) U Q" H2 O
The pebble creates its worth and meaning . }! G! F* x5 o3 O5 l* e- y" a/ `
By unleashing its unimagined power?
' e3 g. r$ H6 }) c# w# g8 Q Into a dueling force of action and reaction
# k, O9 r) @, I0 x' w- Z Creating karmic energy8 h9 q! F ?; Q
Producing lasting and fluid impressions.1 c) z5 i" @9 s7 T
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Aren't we all pebbles? r5 T3 }5 X% \+ m L! Q- r
Feeling small and insignificant
9 z: ]. D7 |/ o3 {3 F% F- F4 u" K But ultimately recognizing , I9 q, `% C0 `* U5 e4 A4 d
That who we are meant to be* r! B) y9 g& {9 ~: v( }
Can never be measured in isolation, _4 d" ?% N8 K9 k
on a path into ourselves.
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/ N/ \9 J- W; W1 o9 ^1 g6 P) T) k It is true then:
1 O+ l$ k" _5 U' h$ S V Our everlasting future 1 m5 J) S* m( D
Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles
9 z' |4 k1 P6 x' V8 X$ l Into the pond of life
% A- Q5 H9 h8 b$ P5 n3 P Creating ripples
) K. r# q' c" |0 b that leave unique mark on our world
4 s0 v' B- F7 u! t Not because of thoughts
, T; S' O1 y/ M& m not because of well meaning plans+ H6 Y) @% C9 U
But because of actions.
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Our life's prayers our answered
2 |: ^1 c3 S% I& S& [& x1 w Because even the smallest pebble
% s$ j$ w; S; A1 s( F6 N7 V No matter how seemingly insignificant
! [4 r. s* w+ U* x+ q0 L Changes the course of the lives
. g! e! I4 d$ R* Y! Y+ H9 x) k" | Of those we touch.?
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* Z! ^. W5 P' M% | And when the icy winds of death- `7 C" f1 t% M' d
beckon our lasting attention z& L: y- d8 S' {9 _
We will gently leave this life + ]# o6 m3 D! g
With the knowledge that X3 f5 w9 @% _4 s1 w) o
because of that one pebble 2 X H0 o; w% `: M8 ]5 p
The world will never be the same.) |8 @+ P& T; l- W A
! d9 A; o& d$ i7 u( } And then we have heaven …7 |- {7 A1 K: u5 t" l2 }
T1 g0 V( a, _1 M: a% f
Ross Rosenberg
9 t' X+ L! O6 o5 }1 w) o+ p$ o 8/18/03 |
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发表于 2010-3-12 06:36
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