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.

' @# W: l. e+ f9 q5 v5 T. q Heaven
The pebble is worn smooth
Made small over time
; Q+ E/ k9 g% }$ ` A product of a cataclysmic force of nature
A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock
, n% z7 Y6 O$ F: f: @4 W. ^ An accidental offspring of a boulder
But just a very small stone.

% ^) D1 n7 ?) T* R9 e; j) q( C The pebble's place in our world
Is neither understood nor appreciated
4 w4 s( T+ V, O# h5 m$ \& k$ x5 o# N But when thrown into a glassy calm pond
: G# r$ i' u* m1 T% Y+ _ Its insignificance is transformed
! ?  u& W# }* q6 K& C2 ^ Its meaning and purpose is unleashed.

- \( s* X' ~5 r+ X. x+ x1 B The instant the pebble kisses the pond
Its signature of concentric ripples
Spiral outwards
7 F; F4 z4 s! E9 Y6 c7 B" m6 D) K Moving far beyond itself.
4 r3 [" i0 w4 T, t  w! J  {2 Q Gently affecting everything in its wake
Forever altering the smooth placid surface.
3 s5 J" p" R- J: D7 S
5 ^7 `! y) X7 T3 O3 O9 B The pebble creates its worth and meaning
# w4 L3 O% }2 |7 ~, ~8 k By unleashing its unimagined power?
Into a dueling force of action and reaction
Creating karmic energy
Producing lasting and fluid impressions.

Aren't we all pebbles?
7 {" T% R2 Z- ?2 w6 I; i: x  ~ Feeling small and insignificant
But ultimately recognizing
$ B5 l4 S' H' {  ~+ Y; L9 _  V, s That who we are meant to be
Can never be measured in isolation
on a path into ourselves.

/ x4 _, |2 |: _9 V- E# I It is true then:
Our everlasting future
7 x1 y4 m' [9 j6 Q Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles
; g; V8 C. ]! f% B" e* e/ K Into the pond of life
6 p$ i" H2 Y. A6 [ Creating ripples
- }  [9 ^0 A  `3 V) e: p that leave unique mark on our world
Not because of thoughts
- v6 a3 |& M2 u/ j8 e  p not because of well meaning plans
5 B2 r9 P: q& M6 e( Y# t) J But because of actions.
( U; n3 M, u+ G) a8 ]
Our life's prayers our answered
Because even the smallest pebble
: ?* C" e( V9 r- V" }/ g. ?. G& F No matter how seemingly insignificant
' w2 _4 Q" }: X2 v( v7 i Changes the course of the lives
: |& T, l5 g1 V+ n; }) z2 D& a Of those we touch.?
6 W7 S6 e3 z  T9 [" X$ H3 I5 F$ n$ Z
7 N4 Y& N! d0 K2 C  l And when the icy winds of death
beckon our lasting attention
; U: F: j9 r* ]# ^ We will gently leave this life
6 r: Z5 Q: W( a/ d+ r$ X With the knowledge that
because of that one pebble
$ X7 f7 c; m) `1 \$ V4 ~8 M The world will never be the same.
4 ]( @6 L  E5 v, f) o' Q
And then we have heaven …
  s! I, R( F5 e$ M: F0 V
5 k; P+ }4 @+ i) }& W, D3 I8 g0 r) Z Ross Rosenberg
8/18/03