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.

, ?& c, P, J# v. Z8 X# U 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.

, m% G! D" `& d% v( f' R( V9 O Heaven
" H7 P* x  U( F5 b" k6 h The pebble is worn smooth
Made small over time
. f5 @9 {: q& A A product of a cataclysmic force of nature
A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock
An accidental offspring of a boulder
But just a very small stone.
, B8 |6 W/ t( c
The pebble's place in our world
Is neither understood nor appreciated
But when thrown into a glassy calm pond
  {$ V( r7 w. I$ @ Its insignificance is transformed
% a, N8 l/ ~" S9 c Its meaning and purpose is unleashed.
% A0 D! O5 h. x
The instant the pebble kisses the pond
: K. T- @; o9 l' Y  d2 x) a6 D Its signature of concentric ripples
; h6 O# A% R1 [ Spiral outwards
Moving far beyond itself.
( b% u. j" R/ |. V' f8 D( D( z Gently affecting everything in its wake
0 \3 p# `2 X0 E" ^, ^8 T  F Forever altering the smooth placid surface.
+ e/ [, n: M& V  K5 Z  V
& U' _- T3 n2 Y9 r The pebble creates its worth and meaning
& ]) Y. _# s( q- W; [1 ^ By unleashing its unimagined power?
2 O$ m6 r/ M/ A& V, Q7 ^ Into a dueling force of action and reaction
Creating karmic energy
Producing lasting and fluid impressions.
5 H6 h4 S& |. i+ [7 P  h
1 S1 g( d% k0 ?) K Aren't we all pebbles?
$ o& ^4 m' s; d Feeling small and insignificant
. S4 }- M& m9 L9 Q But ultimately recognizing
That who we are meant to be
# I! {3 C2 g' D$ A4 Q Can never be measured in isolation
on a path into ourselves.

It is true then:
Our everlasting future
+ v' H" c6 n' d Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles
9 c/ I: \/ I# Y9 T Into the pond of life
7 n- A2 N4 G$ e  B. |' W8 r. G  V Creating ripples
. S  P; d2 A( v( R7 _/ A4 v6 a that leave unique mark on our world
Not because of thoughts
not because of well meaning plans
& K- C/ i7 F8 m* Q6 m- ]7 S. F But because of actions.
# F0 H) [2 A' |2 v: v
Our life's prayers our answered
  W/ V: ]' d! R* \ Because even the smallest pebble
No matter how seemingly insignificant
6 U! o/ H! [, H4 e Changes the course of the lives
Of those we touch.?

! W$ G% b! M( @$ }6 t' o$ V And when the icy winds of death
beckon our lasting attention
) ?! x' ?, U1 W' {( q! Z We will gently leave this life
With the knowledge that
0 s4 C( v* c- R3 d) }, c because of that one pebble
The world will never be the same.
. w# |) Q4 u0 B
% Z% _) ?6 z3 z5 \ And then we have heaven …
7 F  D! @! ^# i) d: p" C
3 b+ m* q! e; M) ~7 m Ross Rosenberg
8 @* `/ {  u1 E  r5 m; l# m& d+ H 8/18/03