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.

2 c9 U2 L( A1 ]' X 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.
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Heaven
$ w* n! f4 a( @6 Q6 l7 M- ^' q* p1 a- v The pebble is worn smooth
- m$ K- {! x' x7 _( G Made small over time
1 s! v( O% e' l# G' q$ p9 p A product of a cataclysmic force of nature
; \( Y& j2 n& j0 N7 G& g A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock
' a9 `8 C5 `1 e. f An accidental offspring of a boulder
But just a very small stone.

The pebble's place in our world
4 Z$ s, h0 ?! N8 E3 n8 f Is neither understood nor appreciated
9 t! z0 I* _  \- c) L But when thrown into a glassy calm pond
Its insignificance is transformed
! d" r! u8 U* S  ^: D/ L& G Its meaning and purpose is unleashed.
& p5 K- H. M  ?) X4 m
3 f/ o1 k5 i' u4 x$ G3 T The instant the pebble kisses the pond
Its signature of concentric ripples
& G' Z: P, S/ `- _$ p3 ` Spiral outwards
! j0 z( R* B5 f; x) n Moving far beyond itself.
Gently affecting everything in its wake
Forever altering the smooth placid surface.

& t! F4 q. M) |1 } The pebble creates its worth and meaning
* Y) a9 }+ _7 z, L2 P9 x2 Y By unleashing its unimagined power?
; ~9 Z: N: R$ S8 H/ W$ c Into a dueling force of action and reaction
$ T8 d& t, q1 p Creating karmic energy
Producing lasting and fluid impressions.
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8 y" M$ |  z9 Z; n2 B. ]4 o Aren't we all pebbles?
Feeling small and insignificant
& M  J8 c1 e! \' I9 h( F$ t* |$ z But ultimately recognizing
That who we are meant to be
; B& `7 I$ a5 d/ l3 o- M% C$ t$ J, @ Can never be measured in isolation
$ `2 p% k9 i! T9 p on a path into ourselves.
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It is true then:
Our everlasting future
Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles
' @/ }7 J& W. H2 a0 U/ Q Into the pond of life
0 ^' K* s' \1 ?1 K; M Creating ripples
that leave unique mark on our world
6 B$ Y5 Q6 u: O! i Not because of thoughts
- O+ _& ~! \& q4 Z not because of well meaning plans
8 |$ `6 S: z6 L But because of actions.

$ i* y1 b  @* U! o: E, h0 w Our life's prayers our answered
& k; O) Y5 a* i  F4 v  @ Because even the smallest pebble
* e8 {$ K3 c4 I1 W7 ]" W9 k No matter how seemingly insignificant
) ?8 o8 ?( Y2 O7 Z1 @ Changes the course of the lives
5 Y2 J% w  K8 P; l Of those we touch.?
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And when the icy winds of death
1 _$ f) p# I! n+ F8 p beckon our lasting attention
We will gently leave this life
8 @9 R0 X* c& c! S7 Q With the knowledge that
$ f" d& Y( @# W! [4 G1 f because of that one pebble
The world will never be the same.
; ^3 ~& T+ ?$ }2 m8 v
And then we have heaven …
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3 |2 h) m& ]4 y1 d* | Ross Rosenberg
( T& |. M% J. ?" I 8/18/03