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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.: t' ]. y) E' b7 z \& J3 {+ H
; R' W' G: \. H8 ]( B Heaven
. ^" J! ]! b% f; _$ q The pebble is worn smooth 5 X5 _4 G$ j$ r! y
Made small over time7 s0 X2 n: w' c; }
A product of a cataclysmic force of nature1 v7 r+ x+ X# F/ ]9 j5 J7 t
A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock6 u2 F W) @: f% h3 k% j
An accidental offspring of a boulder ; s4 H) d( H6 H; H
But just a very small stone. - g" {7 k. X3 T* C' T9 G4 X
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The pebble's place in our world
) {/ R3 b# m: U( h' s0 P Is neither understood nor appreciated! `! w. m& { N$ I! q5 U3 U6 c
But when thrown into a glassy calm pond 9 @/ A- X- E$ \2 p: f% M2 C
Its insignificance is transformed" z. {6 c0 t4 ^4 j; O. l2 ~+ V
Its meaning and purpose is unleashed.: e$ _" X+ N: i/ A7 W1 I
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The instant the pebble kisses the pond
# D& C+ v+ U5 t+ a Its signature of concentric ripples 9 n8 [) }3 d: l* M: e: W
Spiral outwards
: @8 o& I9 ]) J! n' }& s' V; [ Moving far beyond itself.
0 z, {% O" x6 `+ ] Gently affecting everything in its wake
+ W; U' k* A1 X# ~ Forever altering the smooth placid surface." Y. H4 K/ [/ C+ J0 E
- ]4 W3 J& T6 U! Y+ J2 g The pebble creates its worth and meaning
2 _2 N* M' G) B% v+ m9 T By unleashing its unimagined power? $ d+ h; \, \/ Q' s, Z
Into a dueling force of action and reaction
/ E* v1 W( m3 b: [4 d Creating karmic energy
* U8 A8 B7 |: U- B# u* U- G0 G) [ Producing lasting and fluid impressions.) \. u! G/ A# v4 }8 B6 [5 K
# Z+ f+ t, U$ c' h0 K$ _/ B. E Aren't we all pebbles?" f" G! Y, j6 W0 W5 U
Feeling small and insignificant" O! y O/ H: | _8 \$ ^
But ultimately recognizing " R3 a- S+ F- }& |( Z' c3 s) p
That who we are meant to be( A5 R2 n+ h: d2 J
Can never be measured in isolation9 P- V" u5 `/ X' G5 k$ \) U
on a path into ourselves.4 H1 x3 |7 o4 Y E* }( u1 s/ t& @
9 p5 Q- m# U# ?/ Z, o It is true then:0 k* s8 e2 F' v, S, ~
Our everlasting future & H5 a: R, {% g+ x1 r
Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles
# X7 p/ o7 x0 I6 U4 n( V Into the pond of life7 L P* L! k' C* {6 t
Creating ripples
, o: D" V; }) B( W3 i that leave unique mark on our world $ D* f, e% L' _* O& B4 V
Not because of thoughts
- Q+ z% g$ s' P/ F9 \) S$ s4 Z not because of well meaning plans5 j. f6 Y& ?7 j6 a
But because of actions. ' Y. g5 n8 b/ g) `" y
% o) @( h. L: `) J7 o Our life's prayers our answered
8 r7 M0 T* a6 q3 n4 V Because even the smallest pebble ]8 H( W9 y) X! @3 f& H. F
No matter how seemingly insignificant; J9 B8 Q3 ?4 [: ], P! F6 W
Changes the course of the lives9 n+ v& b7 }9 A) X
Of those we touch.?
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" o8 a# i$ F% ?& e3 h) \) Z And when the icy winds of death! j$ M. B7 @& F+ h3 ?# D
beckon our lasting attention
& y, w: ?" S" W$ ]5 z6 m0 g We will gently leave this life 7 Z- c5 x2 G- G/ D6 P2 N
With the knowledge that 2 {& H' d' }/ r
because of that one pebble
6 D. p; e6 u7 `' }" G1 d The world will never be the same.
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And then we have heaven …# C( k9 f) e: Z9 g
& V4 D0 I3 w' z6 ~$ W. H Ross Rosenberg* @( I( a1 ^! O& n8 b" B
8/18/03 |
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发表于 2010-3-12 06:36
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