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.

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.

9 o' o% B' G% z2 @9 j7 U( R1 c Heaven
The pebble is worn smooth
; y) {+ o; A% W) ]" q Made small over time
A product of a cataclysmic force of nature
A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock
/ Y0 {; L5 g% J- j* Z/ k An accidental offspring of a boulder
But just a very small stone.
5 V( B( A; O: `5 D& C: R0 x) r+ [
) z% i+ B3 V. O; D) ` The pebble's place in our world
Is neither understood nor appreciated
But when thrown into a glassy calm pond
1 B, n- H2 f- O, N: n Its insignificance is transformed
' r6 H5 x4 T' h; L* { Its meaning and purpose is unleashed.

The instant the pebble kisses the pond
$ L8 r8 @  C7 n' z Its signature of concentric ripples
+ h. H( @+ e. q' S6 G5 J+ ~& e2 s Spiral outwards
7 F. p! I2 n  y0 X/ p/ @; h Moving far beyond itself.
+ L7 t3 b+ t4 }/ Z( t Gently affecting everything in its wake
Forever altering the smooth placid surface.
) {% A7 _3 a: H: C
The pebble creates its worth and meaning
By unleashing its unimagined power?
Into a dueling force of action and reaction
Creating karmic energy
Producing lasting and fluid impressions.

1 o4 R$ S4 ^# l# D Aren't we all pebbles?
Feeling small and insignificant
  C/ P& P5 f: }  N2 g7 M6 A But ultimately recognizing
7 H4 W) H2 \6 \ That who we are meant to be
1 Y1 j3 m& L7 |3 e" w5 ^; B0 [7 c9 x, M Can never be measured in isolation
on a path into ourselves.
& B% o3 C2 J' W8 K$ e
It is true then:
4 Y( }& ]: Z6 T1 g: Y Our everlasting future
6 x: s& ^# j1 X7 R, X Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles
3 Q3 g! r* R$ Y* U$ j9 n. m Into the pond of life
Creating ripples
that leave unique mark on our world
Not because of thoughts
not because of well meaning plans
But because of actions.
/ v- b- q( }$ {/ S' E" a
) n* G$ {+ ^6 {6 ^ Our life's prayers our answered
Because even the smallest pebble
No matter how seemingly insignificant
Changes the course of the lives
- F3 j1 k- b- y Of those we touch.?
9 B& x/ ~) a5 H! Z8 p6 |, R& m7 i
And when the icy winds of death
0 ?# e$ Y1 x" q, \$ x beckon our lasting attention
We will gently leave this life
With the knowledge that
. |- g4 P' y2 X% r because of that one pebble
2 ]. p6 b$ Y0 q! R4 ] The world will never be the same.
8 p# ]% b' T, }# R1 v4 j+ u& T
1 \: j7 @8 Q/ Z; ` And then we have heaven …

Ross Rosenberg
8/18/03