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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.
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0 ~; d, V; j1 }1 Z Heaven
. x+ T; l& E j( G The pebble is worn smooth 2 p7 r) `1 T4 T/ O1 G+ |# s, C X
Made small over time
4 u! m. H/ l/ v+ A1 f A product of a cataclysmic force of nature j9 k: K: A* d' k6 \ i: M; p
A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock# ]4 E" y4 t ~& A& g
An accidental offspring of a boulder
" \" I" z# I5 \; z1 C" Q But just a very small stone.
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The pebble's place in our world
$ y! o' z3 |/ z& S6 l Is neither understood nor appreciated
! Z7 b0 L) s2 g! g2 L0 O. K" k* e* Z But when thrown into a glassy calm pond
. x4 f8 I1 N$ D x5 b Its insignificance is transformed
# @; ]& u, G# [ Its meaning and purpose is unleashed.
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The instant the pebble kisses the pond$ e" S: k0 e1 V$ n/ {4 C
Its signature of concentric ripples
% r4 K/ H; f; {9 d1 I- ` Spiral outwards
1 n% x r9 D" J# i9 o6 N, @ Moving far beyond itself.
0 f7 ?, s; N+ u3 k- `4 N5 l Gently affecting everything in its wake
5 b* u3 }3 ?& ^; T5 u$ a8 O Forever altering the smooth placid surface." r2 F2 D. o+ l9 l8 |: {! y
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The pebble creates its worth and meaning
' C% d; ~( V3 y; e. a b By unleashing its unimagined power? ) s. } X: A4 X! h% S$ i, J
Into a dueling force of action and reaction
1 \8 A+ I- |$ v3 w* b9 U. V Creating karmic energy: L& z" ?. M g% Q; c
Producing lasting and fluid impressions.
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Aren't we all pebbles?* m. s/ U J$ g0 F
Feeling small and insignificant
- c6 \7 z+ q1 l8 i' e But ultimately recognizing . G3 V* T$ O* X6 j& @: I
That who we are meant to be
$ @# C% R ` l& c Can never be measured in isolation
! g) y! ~ Q4 D- t on a path into ourselves.
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It is true then:' I$ z' ]' u: z" y1 g* |
Our everlasting future 7 U, c( V0 x+ c2 ?& ]# F) P
Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles
* ]0 r$ N$ v3 n2 Y9 E Into the pond of life9 L* \) ^( P2 |
Creating ripples 6 T3 I7 E/ s$ z+ W- `
that leave unique mark on our world : T* a$ Z, o* o R9 q5 F
Not because of thoughts
( |0 C! j9 T4 A9 x' m0 ?* A# e not because of well meaning plans+ M+ w* i& f8 R V2 y! Z! A
But because of actions.
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Our life's prayers our answered
0 M4 W9 |6 g9 U1 H' H Because even the smallest pebble ; G; d: f/ [" k/ b
No matter how seemingly insignificant& }' u# ]8 `/ Y; s
Changes the course of the lives% L* k0 q+ T: S# z
Of those we touch.? - O. m3 f$ H( I- K, w! Q5 O5 d
1 M# R7 c$ a7 t; J e/ ~ And when the icy winds of death; c/ A( l; D& \% `9 F6 l+ i) a
beckon our lasting attention
" T7 w& R6 J5 Z; n9 P$ }) m3 G We will gently leave this life
' m. q7 |5 z* V! B7 V With the knowledge that
/ c% b) A+ Z2 D9 W% _$ M5 y because of that one pebble
& Q+ J: a1 H0 E The world will never be the same.
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And then we have heaven …
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Ross Rosenberg
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