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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. 0 |9 p% i- ~4 K( ]
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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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/ R4 Q& }( ^: d0 G/ F Heaven7 f- l# p* A& a
The pebble is worn smooth
4 Q- M' h; I$ C3 l$ R# H3 R Made small over time5 R9 i7 U; e2 J
A product of a cataclysmic force of nature7 Q& Q3 H" s5 u; f% l
A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock
& l3 _* ]* S! c4 n! t# _$ x An accidental offspring of a boulder 8 [, G% @( b6 |8 W
But just a very small stone. 5 Z; L- t6 g2 i8 J7 p
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The pebble's place in our world ) L4 d- _+ } j5 V! t( T
Is neither understood nor appreciated# E: A& s5 X3 ]9 M/ ^( P7 l
But when thrown into a glassy calm pond * j `1 d, }# E& h! |( i
Its insignificance is transformed' R* g$ j G' z) h! V, P
Its meaning and purpose is unleashed., o: q( W/ G0 a; t7 a, M G7 P
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The instant the pebble kisses the pond" t9 m( ?6 M2 a
Its signature of concentric ripples + S$ A4 _1 @1 _% ~" D3 W
Spiral outwards 8 T, ~/ s. O# _; ^( f
Moving far beyond itself.
, w9 g" m( e* q9 C Gently affecting everything in its wake2 p+ N/ q( L3 u# Z
Forever altering the smooth placid surface.. U1 Y* t6 b6 d
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The pebble creates its worth and meaning ; D5 C3 G9 a* J x
By unleashing its unimagined power? % H" G0 T/ f/ }. ^+ W
Into a dueling force of action and reaction L2 y6 `: y( K. k3 A
Creating karmic energy7 k# ^8 X7 x+ {/ `" u( A3 Z" X
Producing lasting and fluid impressions. \! p5 }! o' j/ |4 [
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Aren't we all pebbles?+ C1 c$ u3 r6 H7 B1 [! S) v2 h
Feeling small and insignificant
+ f( `! t: g# n$ O5 } But ultimately recognizing
0 G! @* S9 v- E" l) L That who we are meant to be! z; a6 K: q/ R3 q" q5 k
Can never be measured in isolation
& O8 D* K& n/ [5 H! E) p! T on a path into ourselves.5 |) a6 J( B6 R/ F$ ?6 y- _
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It is true then:
) Q9 V4 J. ^ }* c0 P0 k2 @- v Our everlasting future 1 B5 k( b. E6 D# I5 {
Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles9 |7 _! J5 `8 G* Q+ Y+ w4 ^+ V
Into the pond of life
& c% x" m. [( G' I4 c Creating ripples
2 Z( X: V( Q- w U! ^, D that leave unique mark on our world
9 m; H y- u, ?5 I& m Not because of thoughts
X& A6 w" M. E* U9 ~ not because of well meaning plans
) `" L$ r! A8 U9 C# n1 z But because of actions.
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Our life's prayers our answered( J( N8 Q' S8 b* n: O
Because even the smallest pebble
$ ^+ W- Y; I1 m0 n7 S7 B No matter how seemingly insignificant
+ h$ H$ d. O! R9 D! M2 w. K Changes the course of the lives
5 x' v: I7 \( k( O# g. S# t Of those we touch.? . p& u/ L) X% Y6 k2 B9 t
: J7 ]* e8 ?: B9 { And when the icy winds of death' c. \/ w0 @& F P8 V
beckon our lasting attention
6 l: m3 u( D! i# V We will gently leave this life & C1 k9 ~# R0 r$ Z* i& `
With the knowledge that * _, v8 Y2 Y: D* R% X" c/ Z) `) c
because of that one pebble
2 z/ \" D p- m3 u& b7 p9 W The world will never be the same.( ?# M% M: ~$ A i' n9 ]7 M7 y
9 A1 d; G; ?# p7 V7 a8 J; G r And then we have heaven …
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; }9 _0 I; F$ E Ross Rosenberg1 }# e1 ]+ W0 p# v9 {0 b2 S+ L
8/18/03 |
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