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.
- |% K; G3 A4 R6 O# S) q7 f
; |( X3 H/ j2 k5 h: }3 D Heaven
' V" V; B" [3 ]5 n5 m. z. p: c The pebble is worn smooth
" ]8 t0 L: I* I! n! k- v: m Made small over time
* m0 E$ F& S0 w; Z' c# q: l" o7 Y A product of a cataclysmic force of nature
2 c8 O2 L0 X9 |0 f' R$ ? A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock
1 q7 j, l# b5 `- ? An accidental offspring of a boulder
But just a very small stone.
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6 h# D5 j% \! K- a9 J3 q* W# g The pebble's place in our world
Is neither understood nor appreciated
# g8 l9 [1 t. ^3 |, k But when thrown into a glassy calm pond
Its insignificance is transformed
: D* L2 G- x# r8 J- c3 O6 D! e Its meaning and purpose is unleashed.
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" A) e, L9 F: L8 a, T$ {* t# ^5 ~ The instant the pebble kisses the pond
0 [' W- e" q: n$ o% x2 R Its signature of concentric ripples
+ l) }) ~% x4 x1 ^1 z: p* z Spiral outwards
Moving far beyond itself.
# A$ ]7 X, J1 J) X Gently affecting everything in its wake
6 z( ?0 l6 c2 K1 e! p+ J Forever altering the smooth placid surface.
4 L! b" y! n, b8 D
The pebble creates its worth and meaning
: L: I" t* m7 g7 P By unleashing its unimagined power?
5 B! M8 G. R3 Z/ d1 i Into a dueling force of action and reaction
Creating karmic energy
Producing lasting and fluid impressions.
2 \1 Y. s( ^7 ?% i( d
; c3 P( Z' ?2 K8 c1 A( h+ D Aren't we all pebbles?
Feeling small and insignificant
" Z2 X( v# ?+ e9 z7 P1 \' F7 o& ^ But ultimately recognizing
That who we are meant to be
- `5 h. r6 _  @' N Can never be measured in isolation
9 V2 J4 H6 ~2 h* x on a path into ourselves.

It is true then:
Our everlasting future
. J! T% d! s+ w4 f/ P7 W Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles
& D9 _  G/ T& `6 e9 N Into the pond of life
8 |0 {( @2 H4 y) n2 g' L4 B3 G/ y% K Creating ripples
3 W5 k4 F# B% c- j2 I& k/ j; l' w that leave unique mark on our world
Not because of thoughts
3 ]& l& ?0 ^; E1 ]; | not because of well meaning plans
/ H8 p! W* L6 q$ N0 i  H But because of actions.

7 z: h. b7 V' @$ J9 ^# L Our life's prayers our answered
Because even the smallest pebble
No matter how seemingly insignificant
Changes the course of the lives
Of those we touch.?
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2 T1 V' k+ _( _- p* q And when the icy winds of death
- \3 p. W7 [6 B$ U, j5 P* T beckon our lasting attention
We will gently leave this life
With the knowledge that
" D8 I" c: w; Y because of that one pebble
The world will never be the same.

And then we have heaven …

Ross Rosenberg
1 B8 `2 d' Q# \+ a4 X! r 8/18/03