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.
  |! `" ^& U& O. ~4 D/ x
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.

9 Y" t+ _& F2 G+ y  h$ G Heaven
  V, ]1 r9 P2 q1 e' L The pebble is worn smooth
Made small over time
A product of a cataclysmic force of nature
! l, h: S& z) {+ L9 i A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock
An accidental offspring of a boulder
. _3 C+ M3 w7 S. ?! b But just a very small stone.

; p! j/ g0 q% F$ f# s6 ^( H- @# s* {% d The pebble's place in our world
Is neither understood nor appreciated
1 u0 I' N+ C. g+ Z' d3 o But when thrown into a glassy calm pond
Its insignificance is transformed
Its meaning and purpose is unleashed.
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The instant the pebble kisses the pond
- ]: D1 c) A6 |( {2 H$ {7 {5 D# r4 j: e Its signature of concentric ripples
Spiral outwards
Moving far beyond itself.
Gently affecting everything in its wake
! H& q: z0 X8 ?/ k: l Forever altering the smooth placid surface.
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The pebble creates its worth and meaning
/ [& ~/ Q* F" b) E7 ?4 Q; p- |' D By unleashing its unimagined power?
Into a dueling force of action and reaction
+ g) Z2 A( e8 n+ U Creating karmic energy
) @: S0 ^, f/ T Producing lasting and fluid impressions.

Aren't we all pebbles?
Feeling small and insignificant
But ultimately recognizing
That who we are meant to be
, l. x# o1 P3 L! X9 N2 P/ S+ d Can never be measured in isolation
5 G0 J+ e; j: G% m6 l) x8 ^( J4 \8 x1 ` on a path into ourselves.
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It is true then:
1 L! d1 K/ x. z, y6 G Our everlasting future
0 n# J1 `7 q2 u Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles
. t, z) U, G' r Into the pond of life
Creating ripples
that leave unique mark on our world
. m2 G! p/ Z) g! a1 v, R# N Not because of thoughts
' ~8 G" g7 O" X% R3 q. Q+ I not because of well meaning plans
4 y& b/ a- P% O But because of actions.
5 H4 l$ P) `# T/ H! a2 x
9 A" f& b; P8 n* K Our life's prayers our answered
Because even the smallest pebble
" U! {7 X$ {/ z% S( s! d7 w; \ No matter how seemingly insignificant
! N2 d" L/ t1 M9 K9 o Changes the course of the lives
Of those we touch.?

And when the icy winds of death
beckon our lasting attention
% V6 K/ ?. n& ?& N% z& k We will gently leave this life
With the knowledge that
because of that one pebble
8 T/ @" P; R2 f7 P; R The world will never be the same.
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And then we have heaven …
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Ross Rosenberg
6 O- H- A- M& n, } 8/18/03