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.
- {/ }9 z+ [! W
+ a7 a' f6 ]% T* W) B8 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.
, Q# s. R8 J- [9 b" }; x
: B9 ^! C& j# y; b1 t+ S Heaven
% V4 u0 p. U3 Z+ X5 S The pebble is worn smooth
. V0 n+ q" p+ S* F  A" z$ v Made small over time
# \! B: ^. V* ^' h, A; q; {, Y A product of a cataclysmic force of nature
A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock
An accidental offspring of a boulder
6 S& y( T/ T4 U2 D! b But just a very small stone.

6 s9 P$ C  g" m" N- I The pebble's place in our world
Is neither understood nor appreciated
' q, L, n( i3 f But when thrown into a glassy calm pond
: q: L3 ^$ r0 x: y5 v6 r Its insignificance is transformed
- x4 d" p2 X% `& x& W7 ^; e Its meaning and purpose is unleashed.
) o' M* E* x4 m1 y; C( A8 [# C$ k9 _9 [
The instant the pebble kisses the pond
Its signature of concentric ripples
Spiral outwards
Moving far beyond itself.
: J) f# N- h4 H) G, F" w' K Gently affecting everything in its wake
+ @% K+ J% m1 f: ? Forever altering the smooth placid surface.
$ C' \, v- ~4 G7 [
# p# X: V6 Z7 F, s" v) {( G; e5 p3 f The pebble creates its worth and meaning
% ]* L" S2 O: l- {  c0 s By unleashing its unimagined power?
Into a dueling force of action and reaction
Creating karmic energy
0 N- R' y! ^& w- _. k Producing lasting and fluid impressions.
; h6 Z- U9 [* Y3 @  g
Aren't we all pebbles?
( a  \0 ?; [3 I" E Feeling small and insignificant
But ultimately recognizing
That who we are meant to be
Can never be measured in isolation
: S5 i: A. Y9 `, g! r4 d on a path into ourselves.

It is true then:
% u+ r1 p" f/ _% R Our everlasting future
5 \9 g! l  F# L: R5 U Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles
Into the pond of life
/ B: ?/ a' _2 y  s& C Creating ripples
8 h, H7 [/ v1 Q/ U! W1 K that leave unique mark on our world
- m1 `8 j' O! {. ]  l5 ~3 J+ u Not because of thoughts
  g+ f/ S* v0 q6 x6 b! M not because of well meaning plans
But because of actions.
7 M; d( ?* M# ^: c$ }: {" w
Our life's prayers our answered
8 H. E1 f0 z* a  j! G Because even the smallest pebble
: |+ Z3 B; A8 l No matter how seemingly insignificant
Changes the course of the lives
% d( D  Z5 O; [& P& o* v* b# E Of those we touch.?
$ A, {' `" u1 K6 t4 F; r
0 X* ^0 s: {4 s6 [3 [ And when the icy winds of death
beckon our lasting attention
. M4 v' Z5 |* e We will gently leave this life
With the knowledge that
- K. f/ m4 x8 i* t; `" a2 } because of that one pebble
The world will never be the same.
) [  a' R' U; ^! x1 G5 N
And then we have heaven …

Ross Rosenberg
8/18/03