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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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Heaven
6 c ^3 P7 J1 y/ d/ q6 T The pebble is worn smooth
5 C1 }$ |8 e k8 b+ g Made small over time
1 i, r, N7 M; h+ a e! d/ L, K A product of a cataclysmic force of nature3 W: k& L% B/ L& W
A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock1 d2 k5 V D0 b5 I" e% i! a$ i8 O
An accidental offspring of a boulder ' Z" R& f$ X$ _
But just a very small stone.
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The pebble's place in our world ! v7 E! H2 ?! W- {
Is neither understood nor appreciated6 v/ T7 c& Y0 H
But when thrown into a glassy calm pond + y% l- V4 c& ~/ z- \. m1 f4 r
Its insignificance is transformed% k3 T! G, J7 e5 D: G3 O
Its meaning and purpose is unleashed." v' I" U$ z6 \9 z9 q
5 R* X: y+ U: b9 [" P The instant the pebble kisses the pond
" y9 {, Q# a" x Its signature of concentric ripples
+ U. u/ P2 B* L+ l Spiral outwards
' N" @( [, X! x* T$ A Moving far beyond itself.1 A' V! ~' _: j; Q* L
Gently affecting everything in its wake
8 S! G% m& T8 U7 w Forever altering the smooth placid surface.) N3 j' B* U5 _7 F
- u# T! o- ?& b/ [7 f' x% n$ @ The pebble creates its worth and meaning ( r! V) r" l* i8 z9 L0 y2 N
By unleashing its unimagined power? 7 u/ ?, \! K' Y6 Z
Into a dueling force of action and reaction9 s% [, w( H+ i. c- C$ F) w3 s ~
Creating karmic energy/ ]) _& B) T* ~
Producing lasting and fluid impressions.
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Aren't we all pebbles?0 o5 i, h4 b" l& _) Z
Feeling small and insignificant) @2 r0 W. e9 c
But ultimately recognizing
7 v, q7 C# K& Y8 O: F! B That who we are meant to be
$ G- U) u7 ~7 T& K3 w& E# p Can never be measured in isolation
$ J9 _6 C/ R o! [3 y6 e on a path into ourselves.
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It is true then:
+ [( R! V4 T% e% `+ P- a* H$ i Our everlasting future 4 \; J7 x, D7 Z. A8 j* I& J
Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles
2 t/ B0 |8 M4 S" \+ D/ B Into the pond of life
3 r, u+ e! h' O; a' \; o G Creating ripples $ v3 c3 P" q' \1 p9 @1 H
that leave unique mark on our world
1 s1 A$ l. |7 n. L8 C- H Not because of thoughts e+ H8 l' ?* Q! ~/ D, ]. x( X
not because of well meaning plans* |- W2 S; t; S
But because of actions. 7 S' Y8 m* w7 r; [1 o' }
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Our life's prayers our answered
8 f" W5 j1 d- _; j! d Because even the smallest pebble
( n3 M* X- n2 x$ C& P No matter how seemingly insignificant2 M) d4 q* F8 o$ g' M# }
Changes the course of the lives
" ]& Q' I3 j8 ^1 o% g5 B- E Of those we touch.? : F r5 R! {' w0 [5 U; Y) h7 ^
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And when the icy winds of death+ Z; N8 o2 A$ W! f. y7 K$ p
beckon our lasting attention* m' i, b. r6 P( B! A
We will gently leave this life
4 E" X' I8 K# s: J) N With the knowledge that
4 z6 U. _; `- d! Q because of that one pebble ; j; Q" x- L" p
The world will never be the same.- I# U7 `) l/ l/ U' W
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And then we have heaven …8 M7 ~' r% Q% x7 p7 ^
7 b: @# `5 B3 a, p2 M! j
Ross Rosenberg
/ r! e+ m) A7 q1 e) { 8/18/03 |
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发表于 2010-3-12 06:36
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