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.
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: f+ P' C- g+ P2 S Heaven
The pebble is worn smooth
Made small over time
) |( w5 Z2 \$ u5 D A product of a cataclysmic force of nature
. q1 v" f, w0 V A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock
0 F( r+ H6 J' ~% \" N An accidental offspring of a boulder
: ]! b$ e4 H3 o, V/ q' n0 b! p But just a very small stone.

5 e% e7 o1 Z% Y: b2 b The pebble's place in our world
( s- h) @9 `8 @# Z Is neither understood nor appreciated
But when thrown into a glassy calm pond
: B5 Y+ \, H0 z9 S Its insignificance is transformed
Its meaning and purpose is unleashed.
$ [8 F' Y) v' X  }. ^! `! x3 I
- V" h, ?4 x* H% d- S/ J The instant the pebble kisses the pond
+ X, ?& H/ ], a Its signature of concentric ripples
4 E2 e% C1 n, s) i9 [1 u% v Spiral outwards
Moving far beyond itself.
4 g4 `$ S$ O5 y- S$ w7 s Gently affecting everything in its wake
Forever altering the smooth placid surface.
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The pebble creates its worth and meaning
8 v% j% B. c. w7 B! e% Y2 K+ @$ T By unleashing its unimagined power?
Into a dueling force of action and reaction
Creating karmic energy
Producing lasting and fluid impressions.
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' R2 P+ F! N) q5 Y/ y Aren't we all pebbles?
1 L0 `# g" @+ l: q. {7 H Feeling small and insignificant
* b% J- {+ |9 t: B: Q6 J But ultimately recognizing
That who we are meant to be
Can never be measured in isolation
on a path into ourselves.
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It is true then:
6 L% i7 k0 q7 F6 h2 @( V, B  y9 ` Our everlasting future
Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles
1 ]% Q1 D  _; A( H7 C Into the pond of life
2 T- O+ O1 S0 r) P& O Creating ripples
4 U) k6 ^- F- `8 i8 V3 i; S that leave unique mark on our world
Not because of thoughts
not because of well meaning plans
But because of actions.
2 a% f. V0 `1 \8 r9 t9 D, ?; k# v# i
Our life's prayers our answered
Because even the smallest pebble
No matter how seemingly insignificant
4 o- ^8 J( M$ i$ G" e  p Changes the course of the lives
5 v& I) r, q2 j+ S3 v4 S$ m Of those we touch.?
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And when the icy winds of death
- K: a/ Z5 k0 Q" F; O$ | beckon our lasting attention
We will gently leave this life
6 k9 K8 [4 n6 h3 A8 i With the knowledge that
because of that one pebble
, g! G* |2 |- K  p! a) L The world will never be the same.

And then we have heaven …
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- ^* ~9 O  e+ g9 o  l. s* p Ross Rosenberg
0 J& ?( x/ E1 r 8/18/03