 鲜花( 0)  鸡蛋( 0)
|
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.
* @4 }1 l v" t: M3 N " f' k2 I( j+ Q0 x3 }
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.
Z( Z% q* J' ?$ ^5 m( M& l / N9 t6 L4 j; P, d6 v- J1 v
Heaven
/ _6 D e9 Q+ d The pebble is worn smooth * H) u/ y4 b& i5 ~7 H
Made small over time9 y: n" G/ h/ |7 d' Q5 ~
A product of a cataclysmic force of nature
% L% T& N5 y( u9 P9 h( w A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock5 j1 I1 W O5 W" i8 l* b
An accidental offspring of a boulder 7 O9 H6 P( N1 H1 W0 y$ l1 j. L
But just a very small stone.
" \3 W2 [8 e# W5 X c, p. X2 Q; K; p
The pebble's place in our world
4 R9 G( k. ] Y( Z Is neither understood nor appreciated6 x7 _5 ]" i5 k) X& }8 k' G' T
But when thrown into a glassy calm pond
8 ?' s6 ?! i4 O2 g% ]/ Q Its insignificance is transformed& b0 [6 _) Q) N" ~0 E7 f$ P
Its meaning and purpose is unleashed. x" p& P2 ^5 [8 `2 }+ U
5 a' W& G) V0 V( U9 v( D
The instant the pebble kisses the pond
2 R: n" C9 M9 ?3 {. L+ R9 f+ C Its signature of concentric ripples
* u7 P) M, ?8 @* | Spiral outwards + B: Z B6 X6 ^# _/ q0 Y
Moving far beyond itself.7 O( X: f) w0 Z) o: x
Gently affecting everything in its wake, g4 y0 e7 T' D. I, E, D+ h
Forever altering the smooth placid surface.. W. @9 ?0 L* m7 v
) h1 }7 t# |1 O3 P
The pebble creates its worth and meaning 9 Q H2 ?+ c2 m7 I
By unleashing its unimagined power?
, G. @* H1 c. M" {# Q+ {. T) T1 i Into a dueling force of action and reaction5 m( t ?: [! E4 m4 I% _7 s) G% ~
Creating karmic energy
& Q$ h6 x: D& t0 k% M' |( o% ? Producing lasting and fluid impressions.* I% C0 ]7 J0 T4 J
; X6 D% v1 b) @/ Z! a
Aren't we all pebbles?; G2 }- T8 L k( D
Feeling small and insignificant# M, [$ ?; L) S! o& N1 ^
But ultimately recognizing
1 i$ `1 N6 o0 S3 z That who we are meant to be
* J2 x1 x5 T( W- d Can never be measured in isolation
% p8 M7 }# t4 X5 |! Y2 r1 d on a path into ourselves.
7 l- d1 f# N9 W8 U; m. _! r m" b6 x1 D8 E. y9 x+ ^
It is true then:7 c g- K$ }6 k! \
Our everlasting future : W* U3 \+ t* v& f5 [. n7 q
Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles7 h* e4 y5 S8 ~* p0 n* x
Into the pond of life
7 a: N& l7 Y# l! K4 _+ E- g8 k Creating ripples ; G- d6 A8 Z1 J: `% k: F
that leave unique mark on our world 2 ?) x& x- X- j/ z
Not because of thoughts
- @# p" S$ N9 Y- Q not because of well meaning plans
$ U7 {9 \$ C4 R2 C7 U But because of actions. ( a. ~# |; V5 w$ v2 G
: V: Q8 y' `$ R( M# m' f" H9 f Our life's prayers our answered6 J! |# r7 G! f0 a+ d' d
Because even the smallest pebble . S" s3 d Q/ n
No matter how seemingly insignificant
. e# p- K. I1 B, y% e- y Changes the course of the lives
6 M0 u! n' Q+ a i L8 \ Of those we touch.? ' r- N, \2 _! d; C+ y
# U' Q0 e& l) E. S. N7 E9 e
And when the icy winds of death# {: ~9 `# U) b. \3 v
beckon our lasting attention
" J& S5 Y [( }$ r0 y We will gently leave this life 2 [+ D5 D0 s# F* M
With the knowledge that ) B) \- N( Q5 T5 O9 M- z, f' y. G
because of that one pebble $ ]2 L- C0 [9 @7 q6 a9 \
The world will never be the same.. Q3 D u" ^' H
* } a1 N' }7 y# I8 ~6 ` And then we have heaven …
( h* v) O8 Q# y. \0 x . x7 G+ a2 H. D
Ross Rosenberg
1 Z" f) c: F0 K3 G: Q+ W+ s 8/18/03 |
|
狗仔卡
发表于 2010-3-12 06:36
提升卡
置顶卡
沉默卡
喧嚣卡
变色卡
显身卡