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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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; S/ M4 M) g' d- } 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.% a- y( O6 z/ V2 v2 m
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Heaven
K O9 k4 e! X The pebble is worn smooth
7 } r7 `5 ]* V' E& ^% p Made small over time6 H1 c) B$ L5 X9 [6 u% p
A product of a cataclysmic force of nature
+ v- D4 k+ m; n A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock$ H8 u& K7 `: L4 z4 C! @, H1 t$ Z" P
An accidental offspring of a boulder
7 i& i G$ S2 X! X But just a very small stone.
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$ X( v1 W# J) `5 O$ T The pebble's place in our world " q0 X- p; F$ F" o1 {$ @% |
Is neither understood nor appreciated; d$ c( t; g! S3 _( {
But when thrown into a glassy calm pond - C' Z ]8 Y2 V7 i1 T: E! z
Its insignificance is transformed" w, h {- F$ e
Its meaning and purpose is unleashed.& q# O5 h+ W6 x/ V# w
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The instant the pebble kisses the pond
, P8 f2 H$ l" a' ~ u' O Its signature of concentric ripples
' _; a; V9 d' k) j Spiral outwards ; g$ e: z3 c) I" j3 K
Moving far beyond itself.
4 G# j Q% ]! S. S4 a% Z7 a; P) V- S Gently affecting everything in its wake
& {) i/ o% w1 E Forever altering the smooth placid surface.& @5 [8 `" U' w* S/ @; ?
' r; w/ E, J/ v0 u2 A: x( O# z The pebble creates its worth and meaning
# r8 O0 O" h% M2 v By unleashing its unimagined power?
9 O* T/ O. v& G) f Into a dueling force of action and reaction
8 X L0 ?) ?& E) ^ Creating karmic energy
6 D6 T' C; L U2 A& f. ~7 `- E) n( J \ Producing lasting and fluid impressions.
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% U' t* H7 F7 q3 X7 s5 A; p$ H Aren't we all pebbles?7 U. m1 [" g) L; J
Feeling small and insignificant/ ?% F( T3 F' q1 H- l
But ultimately recognizing 2 n) o+ E7 z/ ~; _! k
That who we are meant to be
% E; T9 U/ s+ ~7 `0 l& E/ E$ u Can never be measured in isolation4 i% K! {0 D# ~+ b9 ^- G3 r# X: m5 s# E
on a path into ourselves.
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It is true then:; ~1 ?8 `% D8 I
Our everlasting future
5 ~- M, K) y% U9 X3 _9 U8 _" Q( ^ Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles9 E3 V4 T' O4 {! r/ v7 Q
Into the pond of life
7 n8 ^( |% X& w8 ^( c9 _% Y) q G Creating ripples 0 C% T0 c# y1 J! ?! X
that leave unique mark on our world - S4 f4 g. {2 a+ t2 o
Not because of thoughts 1 H: D/ J1 ]* K- z/ E# U" p, P* F8 e
not because of well meaning plans8 ~+ ?- [! v5 e& \4 |
But because of actions. 1 t" t. G" F5 t) i8 {
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Our life's prayers our answered+ S5 U& F' c3 t$ ?- D
Because even the smallest pebble / F# _8 M( l9 A6 x% l1 g, R" ~$ G
No matter how seemingly insignificant
- E8 w# ~: X# d8 T. K Changes the course of the lives
& o/ w* k. Y$ K* G& \ Of those we touch.?
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And when the icy winds of death6 f) c4 R4 w; Y
beckon our lasting attention
6 ]$ ?9 i" x4 x/ Q1 J$ T. s We will gently leave this life 5 M( a7 T% i9 n0 N( L. w
With the knowledge that
: J: l/ W1 W) m+ ` because of that one pebble # o/ K) _7 M5 { R3 @
The world will never be the same.
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And then we have heaven …
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; K# C' C6 C. K+ d Ross Rosenberg
/ w7 [8 J( O8 R! F% N8 [6 K 8/18/03 |
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