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.

/ f/ R, _# s' ?) D6 I( p 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.
: }% n2 z4 r+ m4 d& x! _3 L# E
/ g/ u7 C0 a% u; f) i. J Heaven
% ]1 W# R  }& l  c* B4 z& @) B The pebble is worn smooth
Made small over time
A product of a cataclysmic force of nature
$ I5 N- @) q, ? A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock
An accidental offspring of a boulder
( W7 X4 o( |- H! ^2 }4 `" L But just a very small stone.
3 o+ a, c/ G5 g1 `9 k
  u# `0 s# w! a5 b  F The pebble's place in our world
% m' i" h: O% t  p Is neither understood nor appreciated
& q; L3 z( l+ _; s But when thrown into a glassy calm pond
" \" t8 k6 w- z* s8 K Its insignificance is transformed
/ @  l  G# v# g3 I8 V! }5 B& t Its meaning and purpose is unleashed.

The instant the pebble kisses the pond
0 i3 S* p" I' K6 O Its signature of concentric ripples
3 h  {% S/ M0 I! @3 H Spiral outwards
! b6 G( m. I  `- y& b( h Moving far beyond itself.
Gently affecting everything in its wake
0 k5 I( Q( E2 _# t- e9 o6 M/ B/ l; b Forever altering the smooth placid surface.

The pebble creates its worth and meaning
: R- ~) _1 z% n" f4 T/ s" S By unleashing its unimagined power?
* U1 |$ c/ Z3 @ Into a dueling force of action and reaction
; C; {4 O" _  N, ~( [" l% k Creating karmic energy
. t/ H) G; b/ `7 d. D Producing lasting and fluid impressions.

Aren't we all pebbles?
% j" M/ \0 ?1 n! m! d2 ~ Feeling small and insignificant
: ~, o1 b+ m8 W% X( i2 d, t But ultimately recognizing
That who we are meant to be
Can never be measured in isolation
/ o% \: W! C8 r/ P. R$ ?8 X on a path into ourselves.
7 q) P5 ]5 h& e7 g, l8 J$ j
It is true then:
2 I6 f8 d! |% g. _  x2 A$ T: | Our everlasting future
Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles
3 B5 t( d- h3 G5 c8 U: ]" L! b Into the pond of life
Creating ripples
8 W7 o1 _' h$ S7 g$ V4 Z& j that leave unique mark on our world
Not because of thoughts
/ k! w/ Q- ]0 J. g not because of well meaning plans
7 m0 G( }% m% p; X! z But because of actions.

Our life's prayers our answered
Because even the smallest pebble
! x" A; G  f; Y* K2 v No matter how seemingly insignificant
Changes the course of the lives
+ ?1 q  D& [! Q3 m& t7 g Of those we touch.?

And when the icy winds of death
beckon our lasting attention
+ y# }' }, T$ P; e' n We will gently leave this life
With the knowledge that
because of that one pebble
- m* g5 F% [7 |0 D6 y4 B The world will never be the same.

And then we have heaven …

Ross Rosenberg
8/18/03