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.

Heaven
3 D1 \7 x( s0 N" g4 } The pebble is worn smooth
Made small over time
A product of a cataclysmic force of nature
$ n+ Y  N  L) ^# a6 B' ^4 [9 f8 ?* X A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock
An accidental offspring of a boulder
But just a very small stone.
' G' G! n5 }9 X
7 I* Q' K# a. w: { The pebble's place in our world
- `) l: L/ ?6 l* J; h Is neither understood nor appreciated
' z6 t  {: v1 i4 m4 N" o" q But when thrown into a glassy calm pond
Its insignificance is transformed
Its meaning and purpose is unleashed.

: L2 k$ o* c( D  q# ^ The instant the pebble kisses the pond
Its signature of concentric ripples
( P; {& {2 K7 k: H8 b4 u Spiral outwards
Moving far beyond itself.
$ ^2 H/ j9 E* C; Z) v! A6 N Gently affecting everything in its wake
Forever altering the smooth placid surface.
8 B  B2 T3 V% O& E% C' L: u0 N
) `( d0 i0 q/ Y8 T The pebble creates its worth and meaning
By unleashing its unimagined power?
- l& J5 ^% z) a' Q Into a dueling force of action and reaction
( E0 b; I; a' N9 `. L# i Creating karmic energy
Producing lasting and fluid impressions.
, F! z$ Y  v, _0 x
% W, I' J' |0 V5 M0 n& b Aren't we all pebbles?
Feeling small and insignificant
But ultimately recognizing
9 E2 `5 k2 @1 A0 E. s! J( R5 i That who we are meant to be
2 d4 X+ J0 t& P+ `7 Y Can never be measured in isolation
on a path into ourselves.

It is true then:
$ S# z& n" E. Z8 w: W Our everlasting future
: i/ J( Z/ d: C+ u+ l  | Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles
2 z6 F( ]/ n% M- f0 G6 n& K0 ? 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# h7 z  c  ?7 F1 E
1 r- g" x$ |5 ]+ ^' o4 _ Our life's prayers our answered
1 j8 c' ^2 x1 \% k  } Because even the smallest pebble
No matter how seemingly insignificant
Changes the course of the lives
$ ]- q4 p' |5 Q( F1 c5 _ Of those we touch.?
& S  \" P" s. C2 @5 ^
) r# p# V& E* x8 Q: t, @2 m And when the icy winds of death
beckon our lasting attention
We will gently leave this life
' X5 e  Q& \* P. @( F/ h With the knowledge that
because of that one pebble
4 }) Q# W: {5 { The world will never be the same.
1 F$ l8 e  c" `' a' c0 W
' ~- F6 Y0 M1 E3 K' i1 D  C And then we have heaven …

Ross Rosenberg
8/18/03