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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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1 u5 x0 [( _+ Y) v: W5 x/ {+ O 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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6 P* T$ A( [$ m: l2 @/ M- E Heaven4 B' `) @7 j4 u5 B$ ]1 c: \
The pebble is worn smooth
* T, U" G" r" E Made small over time. L4 o. X- c' j6 l3 ~, f
A product of a cataclysmic force of nature
7 q m0 L. P" v* d p7 ~ A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock
. u; t( i6 l M, Z0 f An accidental offspring of a boulder
- S7 h6 R1 @) T, ~% s. B% L But just a very small stone. 7 U8 m# \1 {3 R* m
4 ~$ s. \* y, u M) J The pebble's place in our world 9 P3 t$ J" X. [0 Y5 {
Is neither understood nor appreciated
/ k& P' l/ \7 D) B) n8 }1 X2 O But when thrown into a glassy calm pond ; Q) p; m3 [7 v2 J2 t% ~
Its insignificance is transformed
. m. C& I' | c; \; F Its meaning and purpose is unleashed.: g, Z+ }) k2 [% f% |* e* ^
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The instant the pebble kisses the pond
* F' m# [+ \ j8 P" ?; n Its signature of concentric ripples
, Z4 x3 f! @8 G+ v2 | Spiral outwards b/ |8 M/ }' X# R: I; T- B
Moving far beyond itself.
2 U6 K% M$ x. @# l2 P; F Gently affecting everything in its wake$ G+ ] ^* b# U* P
Forever altering the smooth placid surface.. [( E, E3 h' ^( Q3 @
7 c& A+ x9 X( S
The pebble creates its worth and meaning
: C; B$ v; C* x9 G$ ?0 b By unleashing its unimagined power?
* ^9 [. D+ e$ I P$ j* f h! o Into a dueling force of action and reaction# I4 {) x& K3 Z! p+ B6 s5 ~
Creating karmic energy4 U* c3 [, ~) g0 }
Producing lasting and fluid impressions.: q; l% `* ]: c
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Aren't we all pebbles?) [# G( h1 |1 T& t3 y2 N4 Y
Feeling small and insignificant0 V: [; ]! s: |5 a
But ultimately recognizing
+ ^% ]; G2 x j) W2 | That who we are meant to be
/ D' \: @5 ]5 o {8 m Can never be measured in isolation: {: C' L1 f2 ^5 f
on a path into ourselves.
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- e+ ~. L0 m9 x4 s( e It is true then:0 Y8 J2 _& e& l& k9 h
Our everlasting future 7 Y; @- o. E% A0 L7 z" X* c
Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles
8 l* b9 K; o+ i& S; r Into the pond of life- {7 n2 o" u, b- I5 `
Creating ripples 8 ~9 n. A7 m8 Z( ^# U: t; T9 s
that leave unique mark on our world
% t+ i' f* e+ Q! x Not because of thoughts
( k0 h' r- h. P+ w' N not because of well meaning plans8 ~5 y( g. O( ?
But because of actions. : G+ b/ V0 q$ P9 M/ r+ g
D/ w, `' A _9 c e s Our life's prayers our answered
9 i5 Q1 k" H4 v8 `7 f' B Because even the smallest pebble
* _% s, S1 x5 w) i! I0 h& ` No matter how seemingly insignificant
2 S3 k/ i+ V; x5 ]" ? Changes the course of the lives% M5 k8 Y6 W/ ]
Of those we touch.? 1 t. ^& ]+ G# e
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And when the icy winds of death
% s0 h3 f5 B0 T$ L beckon our lasting attention1 M2 m0 q# o; [- P/ B4 ^0 w5 g
We will gently leave this life 4 N8 d4 R% G: @* g1 Z/ H# m
With the knowledge that 5 V N% ]% `. Q7 S
because of that one pebble
( u2 f& o8 ?" x$ h The world will never be the same.+ B$ n) \- I: F1 A2 G8 J4 K& X
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And then we have heaven …+ h2 r: Y- z& ~) L- g& z
# ]9 g3 o/ p& V' k" o Ross Rosenberg
9 B) k! ~4 r7 l' h! m0 h' {6 R 8/18/03 |
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发表于 2010-3-12 06:36
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