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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. * g' @; H" V7 [, [7 P
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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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9 a; B) V* J B, H: [ Heaven5 q) z: c# U! e; T+ ]
The pebble is worn smooth 8 @ r5 c; z1 b, s6 m. I
Made small over time
& L6 H2 [: i; {6 b& _ A product of a cataclysmic force of nature6 A9 z2 C$ P, Z/ J( _1 ]
A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock6 f: q$ r* O; O- e0 G/ h
An accidental offspring of a boulder
, [) k" ~! h3 R# p1 w But just a very small stone.
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The pebble's place in our world
A9 E$ `7 S0 g, w& T) U Is neither understood nor appreciated
r) |4 k: _3 z; q4 Y But when thrown into a glassy calm pond 1 y/ d0 H/ Y- @# R; i N: \" B9 }
Its insignificance is transformed
, v5 R: E4 w' s! G Its meaning and purpose is unleashed.
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: J$ y" h# D" `3 _; B# |4 D The instant the pebble kisses the pond
& S) @% l/ M) ]6 F: T/ e Its signature of concentric ripples
L* Z% v' x* D4 x# D Spiral outwards
U8 s1 d1 u; p7 R9 H& p% Q Moving far beyond itself.
( Q" E1 @% L: k; S Gently affecting everything in its wake) V1 T. k0 |1 N
Forever altering the smooth placid surface.
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The pebble creates its worth and meaning + p6 K, D+ f6 o* Z( ^6 V1 p) Q, k
By unleashing its unimagined power?
! X$ ? z/ @/ V( H! f9 t" M% G Into a dueling force of action and reaction' l7 g. | i8 k; n5 |2 X
Creating karmic energy
: y0 ^# S: O3 H# @. ` [ Producing lasting and fluid impressions.7 v/ p& R, q1 Y+ G
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Aren't we all pebbles?
% t: j$ Q' S7 h8 U5 Y1 P Feeling small and insignificant
+ Q, a& i6 m- ` U7 V/ r; H4 N But ultimately recognizing ' C- L5 i) x1 |$ k
That who we are meant to be' U. Z7 }8 S" J# v+ s/ r! e4 J
Can never be measured in isolation5 g& ]( [- \4 P( s5 f, k
on a path into ourselves.7 H5 w/ ^$ Q+ Q5 h( f& E
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It is true then:
+ z" ~/ n$ o$ d7 f# P Our everlasting future : W D$ q8 t8 R( U, W0 `
Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles
}: v" T6 r; n0 A; z( } Into the pond of life
$ E/ S2 D& c! |/ U Creating ripples
9 @4 N7 C, L+ h, \ that leave unique mark on our world
4 Y* l4 e: k3 _$ V, l4 [4 c. } Not because of thoughts 9 p/ \0 M) u- }! n# W3 }/ X8 b
not because of well meaning plans
) s/ @2 O3 i' S" k* d4 [ But because of actions. - B$ |/ W: @; R9 C
$ f9 g q) A; d/ r& v4 O Our life's prayers our answered
# h) I8 L( E, j$ |; o6 s Because even the smallest pebble % b6 S- z, t" q# W- M4 |* M8 U' |
No matter how seemingly insignificant
0 a5 e) p6 E/ r' o/ D4 k Changes the course of the lives
( W- p$ i/ r0 [" e/ l7 v' d# b! n Of those we touch.? ) p9 _* U" Y! v4 D' y0 r
' D& u4 O+ ?/ W+ K) p And when the icy winds of death
0 e; o$ g( \. J) L* l beckon our lasting attention
0 j+ t& ?1 Q( n3 z, S( Y4 H( b We will gently leave this life 1 R" x( E1 O, w2 z9 y2 x
With the knowledge that 5 h" q4 m3 i% b3 p! e# |; J. p" U* U
because of that one pebble % f9 f" ^1 G3 A& D+ r. w6 R
The world will never be the same.+ ]. x* Q y5 l$ f& a6 w4 e
3 |" c/ c+ ?: J7 k8 n* L, F And then we have heaven …/ R) D, Y! m' c7 l
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Ross Rosenberg
" R8 i5 }+ J! N0 R& t4 K! p 8/18/03 |
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