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.

3 R7 V9 L* t$ E) W$ o4 Q' W 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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Heaven
+ G! b" C( k2 F6 W The pebble is worn smooth
# L* F* }- X8 y/ r1 T# c5 K Made small over time
& A: f* D2 {: f A product of a cataclysmic force of nature
A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock
An accidental offspring of a boulder
) ?1 \9 X- ]; _; A& \% {$ s But just a very small stone.

, G5 ]9 }9 K9 O$ {7 D The pebble's place in our world
: }& W( K9 Z  t$ h' |; ^- g' k Is neither understood nor appreciated
# Q2 w7 ^/ K; [; |/ N. A2 a  b# C+ E+ ] But when thrown into a glassy calm pond
Its insignificance is transformed
Its meaning and purpose is unleashed.

The instant the pebble kisses the pond
1 _7 q* M0 r" x Its signature of concentric ripples
0 N5 h6 C* O; B( G  u5 k/ L Spiral outwards
0 U5 b: t* ^' Q+ S; _0 F Moving far beyond itself.
% R2 Z- v) @& i( |9 I1 W" Z Gently affecting everything in its wake
! `) P  D4 t" A: m' } Forever altering the smooth placid surface.
- ]# I  l. f$ e
, H8 [, I8 ?; O- Z+ j% l The pebble creates its worth and meaning
) J* d) ?( ~) T$ l By unleashing its unimagined power?
Into a dueling force of action and reaction
  v) b' D$ n, L+ } Creating karmic energy
Producing lasting and fluid impressions.

. l- W, g* b. K3 d7 ?, V Aren't we all pebbles?
' _' p+ T- l; v# s* k Feeling small and insignificant
But ultimately recognizing
That who we are meant to be
Can never be measured in isolation
  p/ e' O8 l8 o on a path into ourselves.
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It is true then:
3 J* g" T; ]7 i# ]6 n& T) }; E( ~' A Our everlasting future
Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles
Into the pond of life
: Q: G  x  i! X+ {  ]# `+ F Creating ripples
that leave unique mark on our world
Not because of thoughts
not because of well meaning plans
' Z, U4 j# O1 {5 r+ r( ~. }) L% X But because of actions.
( h) F$ y4 S  F" X4 P' L2 k+ |  _
5 _9 g( p8 d- d( |# i2 {6 t; m Our life's prayers our answered
8 d$ }0 y# O) H+ f- }: J Because even the smallest pebble
No matter how seemingly insignificant
' b' l  K: q: L$ l Changes the course of the lives
Of those we touch.?

And when the icy winds of death
/ S# M! Q3 h1 x+ R$ V beckon our lasting attention
: ?  V& C0 p' K( ]% u# a) R' u: ^ We will gently leave this life
With the knowledge that
/ _( ?, P/ Q9 b1 L because of that one pebble
8 {) Z/ D3 E) c$ p7 ] The world will never be the same.

And then we have heaven …

* [6 T0 p$ G3 U' P. E; C Ross Rosenberg
  I& X% O- S; L2 l" D0 ^ 8/18/03