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.

; v3 n1 b1 @9 F7 }4 }; 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.
) {0 S: l) P  T1 s! `7 e( e
, K# z% h/ @$ v" ` Heaven
# p( K+ I( U1 p- u5 L$ w The pebble is worn smooth
Made small over time
A product of a cataclysmic force of nature
+ n' V6 \" U* U$ o A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock
An accidental offspring of a boulder
. m* K2 n1 B( T5 ~. B$ z But just a very small stone.

! O6 Z2 |% u# c0 B- J The pebble's place in our world
Is neither understood nor appreciated
0 _2 U, Q  F' o6 h2 u9 K But when thrown into a glassy calm pond
: A" ]& y6 Q6 _7 c) b; Q. U1 b Its insignificance is transformed
Its meaning and purpose is unleashed.
; E+ r' `& P! Q, i3 s* a- h
The instant the pebble kisses the pond
, R' P8 W" }$ @/ n, d Its signature of concentric ripples
$ Y' h5 R2 e3 s$ q* I1 B# H Spiral outwards
Moving far beyond itself.
  Q( w3 w% y' U( Q1 q; ? Gently affecting everything in its wake
Forever altering the smooth placid surface.

The pebble creates its worth and meaning
By unleashing its unimagined power?
* W9 j+ j& y$ W/ W* R5 ] Into a dueling force of action and reaction
/ m& ~3 C3 M: P" V: ]& t Creating karmic energy
! {# G0 t$ o. u9 {" y& f Producing lasting and fluid impressions.

5 }0 t, R1 z3 M8 @, e$ {3 J1 E Aren't we all pebbles?
Feeling small and insignificant
But ultimately recognizing
That who we are meant to be
Can never be measured in isolation
on a path into ourselves.

It is true then:
Our everlasting future
Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles
5 \6 _- a9 a4 W/ o9 K2 @ Into the pond of life
# x, s* y' V0 U* s/ z Creating ripples
that leave unique mark on our world
Not because of thoughts
not because of well meaning plans
" W! G. ?4 B7 Q; h But because of actions.

9 ~* u8 O3 Y9 |9 o  h4 c0 K+ g1 f" h Our life's prayers our answered
Because even the smallest pebble
No matter how seemingly insignificant
# U  X3 l6 m' Y& _1 _$ X6 u9 B$ [) l Changes the course of the lives
8 H- m9 \; ?2 h) |* j( f Of those we touch.?
+ N* m8 x0 e1 \, p! u
* z4 S/ E5 `, z4 G And when the icy winds of death
2 M' O4 o% k% o6 N  J8 [ beckon our lasting attention
We will gently leave this life
9 Z. W( m( A4 F! O With the knowledge that
  A* f- M$ z. v, n because of that one pebble
The world will never be the same.
( V: w' T! @( l8 \: t
4 \- |) R& W8 \5 \/ u And then we have heaven …

Ross Rosenberg
- [9 N* H; M9 H 8/18/03