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.
0 b! {/ e, z8 A# P4 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.
" J' {8 y! r/ D( B7 {/ }" y
. `2 {% O* _+ m4 H Heaven
1 H% x7 L& p( u$ W! ]; s8 L' N4 _ The pebble is worn smooth
) h0 a/ p$ z" E7 H3 L2 X Made small over time
' d( U# D7 P$ Q) K, @ A product of a cataclysmic force of nature
A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock
An accidental offspring of a boulder
But just a very small stone.
  U9 ?$ t4 s4 v, p; p
! O6 b: S+ e  B% w4 d The pebble's place in our world
Is neither understood nor appreciated
But when thrown into a glassy calm pond
Its insignificance is transformed
Its meaning and purpose is unleashed.
* q: k$ P' J1 N. A( y4 i. p3 C
The instant the pebble kisses the pond
1 v; V0 w3 a, B Its signature of concentric ripples
Spiral outwards
Moving far beyond itself.
' U8 N( P" z/ E; W( q3 ]; t* z) [ Gently affecting everything in its wake
Forever altering the smooth placid surface.
5 g% f9 }+ ~, g6 T  i1 N2 _
7 _3 q6 \( N" v6 S4 i  g# _9 w The pebble creates its worth and meaning
9 z7 E( F7 N* ~ By unleashing its unimagined power?
Into a dueling force of action and reaction
Creating karmic energy
Producing lasting and fluid impressions.
/ K' M$ `  U) H: X% o5 w
2 p6 d1 v, W0 ~2 q! B Aren't we all pebbles?
Feeling small and insignificant
3 v+ E: V( v; l! R( m0 d6 ]. Y& ` But ultimately recognizing
8 \1 Z3 E) j& T+ |- U That who we are meant to be
  ^; q6 t! M* {2 M Can never be measured in isolation
on a path into ourselves.

' k8 H1 l% |3 W: N) x1 ] It is true then:
0 F+ P5 p; ^- h" u+ R Our everlasting future
; R9 w; r7 q; `) B& Q/ s Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles
& \, f- O& o# \6 o9 v' y" [ Into the pond of life
8 ?5 s, S) }. {/ I; f Creating ripples
# y" O; l/ X: d3 Q that leave unique mark on our world
& p. m1 h, K2 t( B- f6 \2 B% _( Q' c Not because of thoughts
! ^# m$ F+ s0 v6 s) ]) B) V& o not because of well meaning plans
But because of actions.

Our life's prayers our answered
Because even the smallest pebble
No matter how seemingly insignificant
8 u4 N7 b: O5 y8 G5 g Changes the course of the lives
Of those we touch.?

+ X4 t' {7 R2 x$ X: G And when the icy winds of death
# {$ Z7 g5 g6 I/ Q0 w beckon our lasting attention
+ D) G) k+ O* N4 N& \ We will gently leave this life
1 V+ k% ?8 t$ g- a0 o With the knowledge that
because of that one pebble
  ^0 O& \+ e6 W6 X8 F; @ The world will never be the same.
0 u* Z9 z3 L1 \( q$ l
And then we have heaven …
7 n, w$ K! v$ b0 H8 C' ^# N9 U
Ross Rosenberg
8/18/03