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.

Heaven
8 M7 Y  r( X- W3 X. K8 p: ?, Y The pebble is worn smooth
Made small over time
; Z1 _# \1 ]; L  ]; M$ \- l 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.
+ ?9 H. \4 _( R% D# Y+ S4 _
- n, g  \! X/ c+ g The pebble's place in our world
Is neither understood nor appreciated
7 w* z+ |$ K. @6 X: ^* ]3 X/ F  v$ C But when thrown into a glassy calm pond
. P1 n( X5 q, \4 o* R0 P7 f Its insignificance is transformed
Its meaning and purpose is unleashed.

. Y, {5 E, M3 Y4 j The instant the pebble kisses the pond
( f& [& j% b3 Q- \" j Its signature of concentric ripples
Spiral outwards
, p& v8 n" k9 j, H$ p Moving far beyond itself.
& Z! @% ^9 L' N" w8 S: O3 K0 c Gently affecting everything in its wake
Forever altering the smooth placid surface.
7 K4 O3 L2 s" Z/ p# _6 Q7 O
2 h) Z' y9 ~% R& E& d$ o/ K$ W The pebble creates its worth and meaning
By unleashing its unimagined power?
3 f% k7 V4 _: u2 [5 Z Into a dueling force of action and reaction
Creating karmic energy
Producing lasting and fluid impressions.
( d$ `/ I; o- Y, c5 j' |
9 Y, ~* S( E4 W. Q  N Aren't we all pebbles?
Feeling small and insignificant
3 z( k+ _3 U2 z But ultimately recognizing
That who we are meant to be
8 W1 S* d: h# y Can never be measured in isolation
on a path into ourselves.

; z& b# U2 J" Z" U/ B, a! o It is true then:
Our everlasting future
* d7 ?+ j7 t* M0 B% I7 V/ _ Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles
7 L% \5 R7 R0 c2 i- S Into the pond of life
6 ?3 X2 c0 K5 E: s* S) i Creating ripples
2 y5 C/ |  V7 `- ~ that leave unique mark on our world
/ F/ B! t( F- t- A! R5 I Not because of thoughts
not because of well meaning plans
But because of actions.
' _/ p& O/ \/ X) l, G2 c* [
Our life's prayers our answered
# Y  E% k3 y  K! q8 d7 V+ m9 U  V) ` Because even the smallest pebble
No matter how seemingly insignificant
Changes the course of the lives
9 i# [8 B) m8 }" o Of those we touch.?

* v- ^* z7 f8 \/ Z And when the icy winds of death
beckon our lasting attention
We will gently leave this life
/ F  p" N6 d2 k/ h With the knowledge that
because of that one pebble
The world will never be the same.
& V! o2 x0 n( g
! E$ g$ i+ U1 [: g( z And then we have heaven …

# H% Q9 u- W0 ^- s' y( q% ~ Ross Rosenberg
8/18/03