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.

, ]; d3 B) J# s2 F. E 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.
6 c; Y8 X3 K$ p: t. Y
. x5 P6 N6 r* v& L1 o9 z/ f Heaven
+ K& _* L4 U" j! I4 C. S  x% K The pebble is worn smooth
Made small over time
A product of a cataclysmic force of nature
' N7 o  w. Z0 ` A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock
An accidental offspring of a boulder
But just a very small stone.

- N0 {: d2 q7 \, | The pebble's place in our world
- {: A/ v6 ^0 ~( w1 f% F Is neither understood nor appreciated
& \3 v6 Y2 D9 G: s! ^" i) V But when thrown into a glassy calm pond
" n  i, Y8 z# L6 s1 _8 O6 G Its insignificance is transformed
8 {3 K$ h/ e% _: L Its meaning and purpose is unleashed.

* X3 `# C% H9 ~, e8 I; P) J" a The instant the pebble kisses the pond
1 s6 _- x/ y  r* R+ _/ U+ @ Its signature of concentric ripples
( g/ Q" A2 O  V( \# I Spiral outwards
Moving far beyond itself.
Gently affecting everything in its wake
; R+ O5 Q) S! d9 ? Forever altering the smooth placid surface.

9 P) p7 T6 z7 g# c( E% _( [ The pebble creates its worth and meaning
By unleashing its unimagined power?
Into a dueling force of action and reaction
3 Z6 H& r& G% i7 ~5 E Creating karmic energy
2 R+ i) n$ m$ w% f, f4 d! C Producing lasting and fluid impressions.
1 r& ]) }) X/ b( q5 D
Aren't we all pebbles?
& I5 e% o  |4 _) K( Q Feeling small and insignificant
" F4 ^  }2 k1 D' p; X: d* b: ` But ultimately recognizing
That who we are meant to be
6 Z( R% L5 U! I( V Can never be measured in isolation
  u3 K& B" W0 J- H6 S on a path into ourselves.
: D% y$ w1 `; ]2 ~8 l3 `
/ S# o4 E( |' M0 P  C& u6 {* V It is true then:
1 I1 h, y& t/ u2 }  j7 f! { Our everlasting future
Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles
Into the pond of life
: n" S7 J8 ?& j' J Creating ripples
that leave unique mark on our world
$ N6 t5 ^3 I; L- B& u. x Not because of thoughts
not because of well meaning plans
* ?! T7 a1 T3 \' r+ R/ U But because of actions.

& Q6 k8 E& b! U* V+ e Our life's prayers our answered
Because even the smallest pebble
1 v4 s( t( u" p) n1 M No matter how seemingly insignificant
& |3 D) a) O5 _1 E8 R Changes the course of the lives
: I0 z! C0 M3 _& U Of those we touch.?
+ B' [) N6 L0 o* H4 |
) K. ]$ I# v1 ~ And when the icy winds of death
beckon our lasting attention
: ~5 |) a# F2 a6 \9 X4 x We will gently leave this life
6 J2 _2 T* P' t1 I( j" q: Q With the knowledge that
because of that one pebble
  Y/ Q$ o. t; p- H5 i The world will never be the same.
. R* b9 ^. I+ s/ L* y. ?8 ]0 M/ r
And then we have heaven …

Ross Rosenberg
& g; U8 h" p$ H& V) i- l, @ 8/18/03