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.
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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.
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( M8 N3 k( K$ X/ I/ {, O Heaven
The pebble is worn smooth
Made small over time
A product of a cataclysmic force of nature
" P3 ]+ h0 T) g6 v( _: ]# X A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock
+ |) n+ G& e' m8 M! _9 f- q, B+ r9 S An accidental offspring of a boulder
% {+ o! \0 ?6 l% n0 K/ d But just a very small stone.
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6 F" q9 E) Q' \- w The pebble's place in our world
; J) X9 m1 t$ \1 Y$ N Is neither understood nor appreciated
3 L' g  M/ v: [8 Q7 B, Q But when thrown into a glassy calm pond
, l: i1 {+ W3 Y( L  D& S Its insignificance is transformed
5 C% b# c! y2 ]) W. y6 P Its meaning and purpose is unleashed.

) d/ j. Q2 Y' v' x+ h5 O The instant the pebble kisses the pond
4 E/ q( u: {5 t. | Its signature of concentric ripples
5 @+ p% D& j$ M( v  T3 H; w Spiral outwards
Moving far beyond itself.
( S$ @/ }5 z3 U! W6 }. p Gently affecting everything in its wake
$ o2 W9 P4 Z. t' ^. q$ m4 f2 Y Forever altering the smooth placid surface.
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: p$ M5 P7 J% @( @( V: I9 e: n The pebble creates its worth and meaning
7 ~% z; |2 ^* a By unleashing its unimagined power?
& u! |( E8 V8 Y4 x& | Into a dueling force of action and reaction
) F$ j6 u; W1 ^, }0 ]; ?6 a Creating karmic energy
5 A7 x7 |) ]* j Producing lasting and fluid impressions.
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/ @' ?1 K0 f9 O- B7 Y Aren't we all pebbles?
# x" H% L8 t2 p% O% g- y Feeling small and insignificant
7 V; j2 |- |$ v But ultimately recognizing
8 G" r2 z- A8 O! g8 x That who we are meant to be
) D6 h1 x! Z8 J: b Can never be measured in isolation
! R% G! }/ ?; \6 w+ Z: i on a path into ourselves.

It is true then:
Our everlasting future
1 C. h  e" h$ |* j Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles
" j, i" r0 S9 ]( X# t& E& d2 y Into the pond of life
# y. A% ?# w& |: C: a$ O# ^2 e, b# ?2 f, [ Creating ripples
; m2 j' z3 C  f8 @ that leave unique mark on our world
Not because of thoughts
4 Y4 t/ Z, E$ y. Z1 M! ?( |+ M not because of well meaning plans
But because of actions.

0 a5 \# H4 p* s Our life's prayers our answered
Because even the smallest pebble
No matter how seemingly insignificant
Changes the course of the lives
* u/ L& j7 w1 l6 i3 H Of those we touch.?

And when the icy winds of death
* B* R7 U1 N3 g6 ?4 |) j2 U beckon our lasting attention
( g. n1 `( w% r We will gently leave this life
; H" {- [: e# P  `' h7 G With the knowledge that
$ [1 x5 O/ \* l  [' ?! C" O3 y because of that one pebble
, a9 P3 P* f) J$ L The world will never be the same.

' u, n  |! q* ~* v& \- d" K! ] And then we have heaven …

: c6 q& K. X. k) d) W9 a% i Ross Rosenberg
! w* e% e( g9 q9 G! |3 P# b9 g 8/18/03