 鲜花( 0)  鸡蛋( 0)
|
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. ! b0 \7 E& z, A' o! \0 D' A
8 \2 @( Q- ]- G4 c
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.4 K) R3 b6 c$ }5 @
n; D& Z, U4 T0 p- V! ]2 q
Heaven3 w2 {% ]% h, ^+ t( R
The pebble is worn smooth ! @# R. e6 A: ?/ K
Made small over time+ @9 {& x. a+ M0 n R
A product of a cataclysmic force of nature8 F+ T" j. C4 g' i2 g
A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock
8 d7 C8 [+ Y7 x& k: X6 D An accidental offspring of a boulder
7 L1 ]. l2 m: L$ K1 g" L" \ But just a very small stone.
. \& y3 [' @. ]+ O" M: T
% v+ l+ {5 _) v; Z% j' ] The pebble's place in our world ! P; N0 [# I3 B# q. P6 }3 j
Is neither understood nor appreciated" h6 e% k q- W0 h: h9 Z8 n! V
But when thrown into a glassy calm pond
+ @ c7 ~8 z! ^, B Its insignificance is transformed% a7 Q+ S) a; {! p
Its meaning and purpose is unleashed.
/ p1 a5 q/ R' F! P5 o/ L% t: b 4 `' g' q% r2 x3 O, b
The instant the pebble kisses the pond
3 ~6 k& A5 i" ?& M; M* \ Its signature of concentric ripples # h+ y5 W( k, w/ E- n5 u1 y6 V
Spiral outwards " g5 Y& Z$ |7 A5 P
Moving far beyond itself.
* T: }1 _9 B7 e# U$ u Gently affecting everything in its wake( v+ a8 d: \+ w( c% K% f
Forever altering the smooth placid surface.
5 q' S6 C# M$ B% f) c
! J4 v! [# t; v0 v$ }) C The pebble creates its worth and meaning
' h# l1 C, K8 p6 b/ \ By unleashing its unimagined power?
8 p8 {7 o: L e) y Into a dueling force of action and reaction- x/ E8 @. m& h# S0 W
Creating karmic energy
$ q& Z: f- k1 p+ V. l Producing lasting and fluid impressions.% _2 e* K" q& c# K: ?8 i
* ]* A+ u7 R, [- ^, H- a! I+ a: g
Aren't we all pebbles?0 r/ n% Q s" v6 z$ ~
Feeling small and insignificant1 t6 S8 a% _, v5 \8 R5 L6 Q
But ultimately recognizing
6 Y+ x" m* w6 E2 a8 O+ M That who we are meant to be
. H- \ k/ s& }8 S- c6 N7 J. M Can never be measured in isolation
8 ^- [9 X8 Q9 U I: c, Z$ J on a path into ourselves.- I) l$ H7 }& K6 o. q
7 o3 O# @ [1 D/ G) G
It is true then:
/ d8 k) ^5 d S0 D9 H Our everlasting future + ~0 h& G+ L5 q/ |" ?7 ?- a
Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles
$ `" i1 H0 W* Y0 R7 a9 x. ]& x; ? Into the pond of life1 ^, `' C* H. f$ F. i a
Creating ripples 6 k+ Y/ v) V3 y0 E+ Y
that leave unique mark on our world
& `( I$ Q/ g: x6 b" z4 x2 ?$ b Not because of thoughts
, z% Q6 ^6 ~0 y: |" |. H/ F/ B0 _ o not because of well meaning plans7 Y# n3 X8 W- `2 X: R+ O% q
But because of actions.
: z( D7 d' K, L; O9 W2 X5 B
; }6 P- v; N* e) H4 E Our life's prayers our answered
" U8 m& _2 B# _8 t! o Because even the smallest pebble 0 n' R9 Z* m1 ?' `
No matter how seemingly insignificant
* K6 l9 K) L, ]+ K3 i Changes the course of the lives% p. q" \4 u1 n r6 |/ d
Of those we touch.? : g* ?1 e, E9 @+ e% G3 G
. H Q: G" F! X/ B$ d( I
And when the icy winds of death+ _; [4 A8 Q. g- D$ H% k2 g
beckon our lasting attention- l8 f/ G5 P+ Y8 {- m* ?2 t" Y
We will gently leave this life
/ q0 s6 v7 e V8 V5 d1 M With the knowledge that 4 w0 P ~- _' e& l
because of that one pebble 6 Z$ i7 q2 N' v
The world will never be the same.; M7 T9 Q& k2 ^
% j4 T' ~ B" o w9 o( N And then we have heaven …8 T6 Z! E2 u: |4 n
- v9 X4 l5 ?5 o% i) o, f
Ross Rosenberg/ ^- V' e1 |, W T8 i8 v
8/18/03 |
|
狗仔卡
发表于 2010-3-12 06:36
提升卡
置顶卡
沉默卡
喧嚣卡
变色卡
显身卡