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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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! ]6 o& M/ D- m1 B# ?8 J Heaven6 P$ t& U1 i: M a8 j _
The pebble is worn smooth 5 n* {2 C% I$ C/ J; v* f: n
Made small over time7 `$ |/ B2 L4 t' G+ E, k- G
A product of a cataclysmic force of nature5 g* H2 ^6 s; b* {0 \
A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock5 n6 r) B, Y( b( f( p
An accidental offspring of a boulder ( s. | N6 g- ^( }; Q+ s
But just a very small stone.
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The pebble's place in our world
6 y; E0 ?# y8 \$ x6 N5 k/ x Is neither understood nor appreciated
; F2 _' T6 S7 o; ~( W But when thrown into a glassy calm pond 0 r4 f3 f* P' Q( \# O, H' [
Its insignificance is transformed. H/ J" Y$ d2 S+ i: I' f
Its meaning and purpose is unleashed.
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# y: R+ @- W) N5 N2 a6 H% X The instant the pebble kisses the pond: P l% H% Y1 Q: Y6 |. u- v
Its signature of concentric ripples : r& v$ M: a# T4 S, V( u7 \7 R
Spiral outwards & {5 S; j. q4 u8 ~7 n2 }4 Q/ T
Moving far beyond itself.& P* m, C$ D9 H# ?' Y6 e0 Y
Gently affecting everything in its wake, b7 u9 \: z) N1 y3 g O! G
Forever altering the smooth placid surface.% S6 v( W/ Y, \$ Y- v* B9 Z7 A
* t! V5 e: ^9 Y3 u7 D The pebble creates its worth and meaning 1 \2 Q9 f1 k) |! f4 E8 h
By unleashing its unimagined power?
) ~- E9 m+ ]/ f* I Into a dueling force of action and reaction3 g% b; p* P. R2 W
Creating karmic energy, K% _. i$ h* T5 r1 n
Producing lasting and fluid impressions.8 y+ A' M* {7 H3 U$ H
" G6 h4 z# s; C( F) D) Q9 B4 E Aren't we all pebbles?+ t& O. o2 i o& f/ m6 d* S4 d
Feeling small and insignificant$ S4 y8 j9 m; H/ {8 a* M: g
But ultimately recognizing 9 F5 L7 [; F, A6 w t) Q3 }# z
That who we are meant to be
# V2 w y4 |5 B) K! m Can never be measured in isolation( x2 d3 F! J3 o b7 |
on a path into ourselves.
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It is true then:
8 ^: \3 v: ^7 G/ y% f2 c Our everlasting future ) e. t. u. f6 F
Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles
6 m' y: O* f: M# s) z' J) X Into the pond of life$ t' D# S v3 r
Creating ripples 4 `/ |& s) }- ]4 Z1 e
that leave unique mark on our world
* q6 j' ~( ]4 y C! W Not because of thoughts
+ W! C! _( I1 y1 S not because of well meaning plans0 W2 P% F) N9 S3 s2 i% A
But because of actions.
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Our life's prayers our answered/ b/ v- M" X! m$ q, T; E; a
Because even the smallest pebble ! _3 V5 v/ M `: S6 ]+ y
No matter how seemingly insignificant
- c1 M( R! l: y* F6 N" Y8 m Changes the course of the lives
8 z! `! K6 T& b3 B2 E Of those we touch.?
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And when the icy winds of death/ Q8 P1 b. R5 F) G$ [
beckon our lasting attention0 h1 F* L7 _5 N# i, ^4 |7 ]
We will gently leave this life / w/ L j* @1 B8 L
With the knowledge that
# ]9 n: H) X. } because of that one pebble
, T& a+ C* L8 h: E5 a$ f0 \ The world will never be the same.& x4 U. Z C! f& h1 y0 X
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And then we have heaven …/ o1 `2 ^2 C' m0 e2 _
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Ross Rosenberg
% G( w: ]! Y! l3 h# j1 @; w 8/18/03 |
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发表于 2010-3-12 06:36
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