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.

5 _: i/ Q/ U( S 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.

( G8 ]2 {" ^: L" { Heaven
The pebble is worn smooth
3 m; Z0 x" |% L( f$ y Made small over time
A product of a cataclysmic force of nature
+ b% e1 a+ Z  g; a$ ^. W' ~ A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock
An accidental offspring of a boulder
But just a very small stone.

; b; H2 K8 H9 V* w. s The pebble's place in our world
Is neither understood nor appreciated
But when thrown into a glassy calm pond
' l2 D7 Q' O/ b% h Its insignificance is transformed
8 ]8 v. k- c5 s+ A7 `& l5 s Its meaning and purpose is unleashed.

The instant the pebble kisses the pond
Its signature of concentric ripples
Spiral outwards
1 l" _% R# e$ U( v, b4 i$ p Moving far beyond itself.
Gently affecting everything in its wake
4 D& P2 {" Q3 T( y3 H$ ~ Forever altering the smooth placid surface.

The pebble creates its worth and meaning
By unleashing its unimagined power?
Into a dueling force of action and reaction
Creating karmic energy
% {/ i+ {9 n: k' R. ], G Producing lasting and fluid impressions.
  ^9 S. x6 V7 f2 e
: r8 Y- M6 {  v' t- d- C: a Aren't we all pebbles?
, [0 P5 ~5 |0 f( e7 C% a* M Feeling small and insignificant
( M: e: i  X1 t But ultimately recognizing
* j) p; a2 E$ g1 Z3 s2 M That who we are meant to be
Can never be measured in isolation
6 U& h" ]! Q8 [: h0 F7 A on a path into ourselves.

/ e( C! a4 ^1 K# ~' X3 X It is true then:
5 u0 Y8 N# e3 D! d  N Our everlasting future
Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles
Into the pond of life
' {: e9 W; w2 ]. S- G9 M Creating ripples
& O9 z: e* w6 `$ V& L$ z& p that leave unique mark on our world
Not because of thoughts
3 a, N7 g9 ^+ {$ ~5 s9 V4 P) \& c1 H not because of well meaning plans
But because of actions.
) O' f$ c  R$ y0 B) I! U
9 e" V" E" R1 k2 k# { Our life's prayers our answered
; O1 l# p+ m6 a0 L Because even the smallest pebble
! |  ^9 Y) U" }9 u. F+ B No matter how seemingly insignificant
" C! G, x' E* E2 `- w Changes the course of the lives
Of those we touch.?
/ q8 Y. `! a9 S& a% Y
And when the icy winds of death
. A1 g! m7 N# c( G$ `+ O beckon our lasting attention
; J# A- Z- M( V# p* q6 ^0 I We will gently leave this life
With the knowledge that
1 ]3 Y5 F2 _4 }! e" R because of that one pebble
" i" W# o4 g, J6 u6 d The world will never be the same.
* [6 l/ f8 T2 V6 B
And then we have heaven …
0 }; t  f: H8 A0 d
' v# k6 M4 [( I& q* `& F Ross Rosenberg
8/18/03