Heaven

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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.

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.

" x/ a. ^$ Q  { Heaven
  `9 F; e2 v' X. }7 E6 \4 q1 q+ u The pebble is worn smooth
1 r, W8 W+ @0 Z, p/ J+ u/ h Made small over time
" x, Y" q$ y% }  R; P A product of a cataclysmic force of nature
A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock
An accidental offspring of a boulder
3 g% o3 }9 ?# x6 W* s( @# G6 Y8 K But just a very small stone.
% y5 Q8 F# W, l1 S( Y
9 w' [, @! ~6 ~2 H- X# p The pebble's place in our world
' V: B& t  ^! }/ u) W  M% u Is neither understood nor appreciated
But when thrown into a glassy calm pond
Its insignificance is transformed
0 r  N6 a+ h; c0 f6 C* q Its meaning and purpose is unleashed.
  k1 A, E( g1 n, q$ W
The instant the pebble kisses the pond
% ]+ W- ~, \0 C* a, ?7 h Its signature of concentric ripples
) _% N! g$ Q" v3 }! |0 s) a Spiral outwards
Moving far beyond itself.
" U8 S( L6 B$ r- W  A Gently affecting everything in its wake
9 p8 f/ T3 D  ~' V  v Forever altering the smooth placid surface.

The pebble creates its worth and meaning
! u1 W; \9 }7 Y& N6 j& B By unleashing its unimagined power?
) n7 F7 K7 Y3 c Into a dueling force of action and reaction
Creating karmic energy
Producing lasting and fluid impressions.
/ p3 X: ~) T% [2 V0 |
& L4 [  x! S5 ]$ g( w Aren't we all pebbles?
) ]& f# V2 D' p$ K# F8 T8 p Feeling small and insignificant
& C/ ~) {# `8 M; j/ O( N- I4 E' B+ Q But ultimately recognizing
% a$ X. }5 ]3 B+ f. Z" Q That who we are meant to be
7 b" }1 Q( C1 _( T  B3 f Can never be measured in isolation
on a path into ourselves.

It is true then:
Our everlasting future
6 p& n/ o+ W- J" @- s; f& _& N Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles
Into the pond of life
- g+ O" z1 h* {6 G/ o( W: g Creating ripples
that leave unique mark on our world
& ?: L5 f; T2 J& N6 P) d Not because of thoughts
9 F7 b' V' C7 _6 H- p: H not because of well meaning plans
But because of actions.
6 X' ]: i% A6 y% u% H
Our life's prayers our answered
2 p: A( m: F" d; Y" M6 l, n4 _# o Because even the smallest pebble
4 H8 _2 ]# K! M! b No matter how seemingly insignificant
Changes the course of the lives
Of those we touch.?
8 F  d" N/ s. o
And when the icy winds of death
  m0 z( W$ e3 K8 ^1 J$ y) Q4 X beckon our lasting attention
$ T" H% M: D; r+ R% ^6 B We will gently leave this life
With the knowledge that
4 r% x% E. U7 X! | because of that one pebble
The world will never be the same.
2 X! ?) P2 c: Q  P3 Q0 \
5 B. ^" j% w0 h And then we have heaven …
$ N* R4 \$ d* x- B
Ross Rosenberg
6 d3 |0 y6 g! R  p8 R9 n 8/18/03