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.
# f3 c% `3 T8 k( c% Q9 T
, H' V6 d0 f! j Heaven
3 _1 I! u8 W6 c0 ^/ u- L& e/ f2 F The pebble is worn smooth
0 j6 z" j( t' V8 a Made small over time
& d2 }: w/ R/ O0 y: q A product of a cataclysmic force of nature
A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock
An accidental offspring of a boulder
5 y8 \! f: ^8 A" r4 p2 m4 \ But just a very small stone.

The pebble's place in our world
/ a9 A5 ~+ r# R" ? Is neither understood nor appreciated
But when thrown into a glassy calm pond
Its insignificance is transformed
Its meaning and purpose is unleashed.
1 a4 x4 _$ H! w8 b
The instant the pebble kisses the pond
+ l! ]3 ]& Q; m0 u2 O Its signature of concentric ripples
0 S" V0 P0 u  }/ a; l; O Spiral outwards
Moving far beyond itself.
Gently affecting everything in its wake
( H0 y- J: z1 G7 U0 P9 s Forever altering the smooth placid surface.

! {4 `% R3 d% Y* L' X8 | The pebble creates its worth and meaning
6 y+ [) @& B( X6 w/ d! Q By unleashing its unimagined power?
Into a dueling force of action and reaction
. Y# D1 c8 B6 v0 v Creating karmic energy
5 R/ l( {/ N) }% _+ w Producing lasting and fluid impressions.

5 U, O0 U( C5 j) O& K/ I: B/ q Aren't we all pebbles?
3 O$ x  p# B) t+ d# P Feeling small and insignificant
( P1 y4 h4 r6 S& D3 Z) X But ultimately recognizing
That who we are meant to be
Can never be measured in isolation
; k6 K+ l! M: J* w# q on a path into ourselves.

2 w) _/ U, s4 O: c3 m$ r+ l4 e2 h5 s It is true then:
Our everlasting future
$ o4 n" @$ T& K8 H/ M Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles
Into the pond of life
$ W& A* z$ j0 X% Q1 N: E# t) n2 [- S Creating ripples
that leave unique mark on our world
% f" x4 s. h) a& g% l, v4 F1 I Not because of thoughts
0 Z4 b+ D) A3 b' [0 B not because of well meaning plans
But because of actions.
& ?5 L9 L2 t. j
" F5 z% y# b& |( H Our life's prayers our answered
Because even the smallest pebble
7 f0 Q: S, B7 p: K No matter how seemingly insignificant
Changes the course of the lives
Of those we touch.?
" ]! x% _7 A$ r; Y( p1 J1 U; N9 C
And when the icy winds of death
beckon our lasting attention
  j' _7 l% e0 l0 z. _ We will gently leave this life
With the knowledge that
because of that one pebble
The world will never be the same.
6 f' p) Y7 l  q* Z1 C% E* D
) D! d2 j' R7 G$ O" ]$ q  f. U, N5 R) J And then we have heaven …
; ], \" e- F( W& P& e
" i" z+ \" j% s7 R Ross Rosenberg
8/18/03