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.
: ]7 s' [! Q; I7 f
7 }1 e6 I# E2 {7 k 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.
" a- ]. ]& B! g- T+ v% m
; m! e4 R. }/ o$ O Heaven
0 v2 g  p4 o# p5 L The pebble is worn smooth
5 d5 P" k9 @2 y" z Made small over time
1 T3 S+ S- I8 d( I" V3 ] A product of a cataclysmic force of nature
0 i' x" Q- r1 N! ~* i* ] A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock
" m/ @$ t& B/ t4 e An accidental offspring of a boulder
But just a very small stone.

( R9 J" v" k$ H  l% T1 y# x The pebble's place in our world
# Y* x$ J7 s5 Q( p9 X. p2 p$ I Is neither understood nor appreciated
* y$ u4 O* ~4 u, U$ e But when thrown into a glassy calm pond
Its insignificance is transformed
, v" R) v" ]: Q$ I. G Its meaning and purpose is unleashed.
4 N) x, D) Z! C& {2 f$ h" D
* n( A: |4 ]( s  n7 b8 x The instant the pebble kisses the pond
Its signature of concentric ripples
Spiral outwards
Moving far beyond itself.
  e4 J+ N. f- |$ J; l Gently affecting everything in its wake
' w: C/ w' O$ i* A) T. n; L+ { Forever altering the smooth placid surface.

% o7 @. K' T, o; h' w8 X: l The pebble creates its worth and meaning
- d$ E' X4 d( {5 f( r" x By unleashing its unimagined power?
' F! T1 }& M. G& X Into a dueling force of action and reaction
! o$ J7 ^2 I9 G" K$ Q' ]6 W& L Creating karmic energy
Producing lasting and fluid impressions.
2 G% ]0 b+ L' o6 {- @* o
Aren't we all pebbles?
Feeling small and insignificant
! X' n- h2 ?3 w- I& ?4 M+ Q1 r But ultimately recognizing
That who we are meant to be
9 i/ N. j- ]  \# O0 f Can never be measured in isolation
on a path into ourselves.

It is true then:
" R6 B& o) h2 R% x4 d1 M; I Our everlasting future
* t/ ?4 N6 Q# c2 ? Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles
4 S6 V" q0 g7 B- O; K Into the pond of life
Creating ripples
2 o( o# D% R4 l3 o# R/ N  x7 \ that leave unique mark on our world
$ U! ]- m# n  d# S5 D Not because of thoughts
not because of well meaning plans
$ m' H4 l% B, ]! H, a1 Q! X' k4 W But because of actions.

# L3 [! b4 q, ?9 V% ^( w4 e& H Our life's prayers our answered
4 x' o( H) [4 |7 L- w: B& m Because even the smallest pebble
  f: G! v- N/ m No matter how seemingly insignificant
( _" ^$ Z4 k9 b, w Changes the course of the lives
Of those we touch.?

$ d* r: ~6 v0 L  h* d* J And when the icy winds of death
# d% v1 o( U5 f3 ~  G7 \5 I8 f9 g6 \ beckon our lasting attention
We will gently leave this life
With the knowledge that
. n" ?% q! b& h0 r0 u9 O3 X because of that one pebble
The world will never be the same.
0 U6 ^( s9 S2 R7 o2 ]* d
1 U( a- J% D* A* d( l; F0 ] And then we have heaven …

: W5 y4 @) j6 [1 {/ t3 @% _ Ross Rosenberg
8/18/03