Heaven

khfacdgku

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.

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.
( ~9 b  c* S% J+ ?, X
Heaven
  l1 r; E+ O8 E2 d- h: l The pebble is worn smooth
! r2 {" U) u6 P% m6 G Made small over time
* o9 b$ C% H0 }2 j1 G' y A product of a cataclysmic force of nature
1 k3 U; L. j. [ A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock
An accidental offspring of a boulder
- \9 e. _6 I+ q2 k9 k5 n; y) g# @ But just a very small stone.
2 e/ `/ Q% L( C; q& C; c" C
- f6 e8 P' S: d; A4 f, U3 s The pebble's place in our world
Is neither understood nor appreciated
But when thrown into a glassy calm pond
Its insignificance is transformed
+ I( n! Q; k; T+ I! t( f7 _ Its meaning and purpose is unleashed.
  F% X- {/ p  l/ \
5 |1 Z* [4 P; ^# y' T9 R  |% P The instant the pebble kisses the pond
Its signature of concentric ripples
% }# G9 H/ Z! N+ T' _6 B Spiral outwards
) e  ^; w0 n. ^( W! h2 x' Y) A Moving far beyond itself.
/ V6 B5 v* a- T! W5 x! C4 s Gently affecting everything in its wake
) D( u# E% G" w7 H4 `, U Forever altering the smooth placid surface.
4 q8 S' ^) n% G9 t
The pebble creates its worth and meaning
8 N$ a; U* ]6 }9 e5 w6 y5 O By unleashing its unimagined power?
Into a dueling force of action and reaction
Creating karmic energy
Producing lasting and fluid impressions.
/ l" t8 \- m2 W' a/ D0 O
, k2 U- |5 L+ V Aren't we all pebbles?
  l" l% T; ?( d! ~/ ] Feeling small and insignificant
But ultimately recognizing
+ x/ a" X3 D. {! h/ w, z/ {* w That who we are meant to be
) n& T9 \2 `, f$ B Can never be measured in isolation
# Q! O3 P  y! P( e on a path into ourselves.
- G% Y7 r1 V) |1 `
  S& C1 P& o. h, L& G It is true then:
+ k: N; X, k# d9 I; X Our everlasting future
Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles
Into the pond of life
Creating ripples
that leave unique mark on our world
Not because of thoughts
& A1 y/ p1 |8 ~% D not because of well meaning plans
But because of actions.
& L) U8 r: F6 Z/ G, `4 M
  e7 ?% R1 G% f Our life's prayers our answered
Because even the smallest pebble
No matter how seemingly insignificant
0 _1 D$ f3 T# q$ T. m/ h/ ~& H4 m Changes the course of the lives
Of those we touch.?

And when the icy winds of death
% S3 N+ J7 q9 N. H beckon our lasting attention
We will gently leave this life
, T' p* c  U7 X0 q4 I3 o" \1 ] With the knowledge that
# P' I1 C3 r8 b- U+ R: v) K& C8 q* ? because of that one pebble
4 @$ p) ~. V; k7 G3 C The world will never be the same.

3 x: J3 Y9 M; w( j And then we have heaven …
" m$ m: y) O3 A' M0 d& K
* |0 i  z/ T2 u: e% c' K Ross Rosenberg
8/18/03