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
, ]* p, T1 _2 Y2 P5 v The pebble is worn smooth
7 ]0 E% _/ \2 L, {  F( l Made small over time
' x6 {: Q4 M1 G4 w9 M/ Q8 t A product of a cataclysmic force of nature
A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock
) o$ T4 P- n4 v. M6 R) b4 B+ N7 h An accidental offspring of a boulder
( R! ?& t8 b3 q3 C- g9 V But just a very small stone.

The pebble's place in our world
Is neither understood nor appreciated
But when thrown into a glassy calm pond
- R7 k" m7 x0 [4 @5 y1 v$ e" L Its insignificance is transformed
$ }5 j- J, B4 P! N Its meaning and purpose is unleashed.
0 h; I) H$ N: L( L+ l) R0 \0 V
7 n0 i0 w4 D$ R& H: O: S* t The instant the pebble kisses the pond
Its signature of concentric ripples
, F$ w/ }1 r! ]$ w: d8 W! q( F/ [ Spiral outwards
Moving far beyond itself.
& n* x3 m# o% I+ s" a4 { Gently affecting everything in its wake
: \' y7 {$ o- i: d5 E Forever altering the smooth placid surface.
) @" ?& @- e# H+ X, M# B
2 `1 g$ q! ~" C+ x; j The pebble creates its worth and meaning
" e  u) j/ Y4 _: M$ u1 D By unleashing its unimagined power?
& k- H  R, k  \6 U Into a dueling force of action and reaction
% S, u/ [, r" }9 f5 k5 L Creating karmic energy
- `7 r. s: O% O4 p0 x6 S Producing lasting and fluid impressions.

. N0 C' o; J6 I- W) V Aren't we all pebbles?
" y. I4 `  q3 e9 c' E Feeling small and insignificant
But ultimately recognizing
5 y7 V% b! G' R. T$ t6 ` That who we are meant to be
5 ?- P9 M8 m5 [6 v Can never be measured in isolation
on a path into ourselves.

It is true then:
Our everlasting future
- n+ D4 P1 H7 D1 v( i0 ` Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles
7 J8 c' @7 i( p* D2 [/ p" j( \8 @" r Into the pond of life
Creating ripples
: b' E' l! d- m; D- v* f8 d' I' {" Y that leave unique mark on our world
- {% O5 H; v7 H. `6 W Not because of thoughts
1 g* K" b& W8 E+ T! t not because of well meaning plans
2 [; ]5 ]7 U5 @6 ^6 x' D But because of actions.
7 }/ l1 O9 B8 m) f
Our life's prayers our answered
5 s: V* b# Z  l1 {! K# L Because even the smallest pebble
No matter how seemingly insignificant
Changes the course of the lives
Of those we touch.?
% w& d. g7 D1 h3 u1 p% ~1 q4 A
And when the icy winds of death
7 ~2 G5 k; a" m0 Q2 C' C3 a+ `9 t beckon our lasting attention
2 t6 P% E  O. z! |/ s We will gently leave this life
With the knowledge that
because of that one pebble
The world will never be the same.
6 L# M/ k% H! [9 @; E
: q+ k. v. h+ k1 e- q9 E And then we have heaven …

Ross Rosenberg
4 F* s. B, K( [0 D/ C 8/18/03