Heaven

khfacdgku

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.
* l/ G! [9 `! `/ Q" p5 D
+ B$ G0 U! D6 g; x; 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.
; j% Y! ]* c! K/ M! g  S8 H
Heaven
The pebble is worn smooth
$ Q- X: B# \; y/ m# U* M8 L Made small over time
% }6 l: b& W" b1 R A product of a cataclysmic force of nature
# m( [: O: s1 }/ ` A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock
7 s* l$ |* Z) C1 D An accidental offspring of a boulder
But just a very small stone.
9 h. W. `0 s. J7 P
8 i9 [  G: G  e- W5 T2 B; H$ W The pebble's place in our world
  Y; X. T$ I9 L  S$ [! X Is neither understood nor appreciated
But when thrown into a glassy calm pond
: G! F8 ^. F2 u, h2 ~3 x8 @ Its insignificance is transformed
  k' v. M/ [" [ Its meaning and purpose is unleashed.
- G; l) j6 m: ]
7 q' x; a  @0 `# [4 v The instant the pebble kisses the pond
Its signature of concentric ripples
1 W7 Z: h8 |  I1 ^/ j( M3 V9 }& R  x! { Spiral outwards
" _- p( ~% \. ?. _9 y4 Z7 Z Moving far beyond itself.
Gently affecting everything in its wake
, N; Q' m% }0 O+ o0 j& [ Forever altering the smooth placid surface.
+ T1 y, X/ ~3 c0 ~7 {7 h
The pebble creates its worth and meaning
6 O7 ?) u& b1 h By unleashing its unimagined power?
Into a dueling force of action and reaction
' l3 b! @- [5 d Creating karmic energy
Producing lasting and fluid impressions.
8 a, y) Y1 q: y. {0 w. }% t. ]
Aren't we all pebbles?
Feeling small and insignificant
+ [/ \! X3 {4 }/ q/ v+ p But ultimately recognizing
That who we are meant to be
( ^. K8 q9 }9 r) c: y* C# L Can never be measured in isolation
on a path into ourselves.
1 `1 ?8 A9 `& N6 ]9 h6 {
It is true then:
, ]" z4 a( y+ V- N1 \ Our everlasting future
8 o6 H2 t: J" R6 K Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles
) V( U4 a- R% `$ I- k9 e6 L0 H/ U% R Into the pond of life
. Q  K' r  r7 B( H: F Creating ripples
that leave unique mark on our world
Not because of thoughts
! \9 n) n- @0 K: K% k not because of well meaning plans
But because of actions.

Our life's prayers our answered
; S$ Q6 i" X# P; Z# h% W Because even the smallest pebble
No matter how seemingly insignificant
1 s$ ^) B3 u5 Z# b' r Changes the course of the lives
) X& A* }- ^$ k" s- b. a2 { Of those we touch.?

( c. ?  ^, L" x6 }- K% M2 Q And when the icy winds of death
beckon our lasting attention
We will gently leave this life
  i" K2 N7 l, x0 ?0 I* `5 t With the knowledge that
. W2 b: k* v* ~4 w. U$ V) ?# I because of that one pebble
The world will never be the same.
* C4 M' o; B+ g0 r
2 W  H9 ?2 g! D1 O And then we have heaven …
' v" I5 }% Z6 v: r
) t+ R5 q! e1 l- e% Y Ross Rosenberg
1 g$ T6 C  o" H. e 8/18/03