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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- Q3 Y0 o/ F$ y9 Q: I( s  f, z+ E3 U 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.

1 d) c$ j0 ]" Y Heaven
/ i9 ]3 j4 l& \0 e! M) V. o The pebble is worn smooth
Made small over time
: {( k8 ?& T5 h8 w- m9 [ A product of a cataclysmic force of nature
5 _( n/ m4 [0 V9 b8 C* G A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock
. |( V9 W6 R  \% F& `( l An accidental offspring of a boulder
But just a very small stone.

# E3 c3 A3 |0 l2 x' R' C" w1 ^ The pebble's place in our world
$ r: [0 R) A+ U4 w8 ]  J3 M3 | Is neither understood nor appreciated
But when thrown into a glassy calm pond
Its insignificance is transformed
8 X6 [7 I0 ]6 h9 F+ [7 U Its meaning and purpose is unleashed.
  C' E/ m9 S, N; K
The instant the pebble kisses the pond
  n' @1 F( L7 W' o Its signature of concentric ripples
: F$ Y* |, @& L. F$ ~9 M' W Spiral outwards
Moving far beyond itself.
Gently affecting everything in its wake
2 @0 i6 [- t1 j* S Forever altering the smooth placid surface.
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# H, G( ]! ^; R3 H The pebble creates its worth and meaning
* {4 B+ j, X( ^ By unleashing its unimagined power?
# b4 T2 A9 K* B) @6 u Into a dueling force of action and reaction
, [# ~2 A" U1 a Creating karmic energy
! t# y: v9 K  M$ P% I8 Z1 O Producing lasting and fluid impressions.
% a! `3 O9 Y5 R& f2 H( o
Aren't we all pebbles?
0 n1 r1 y. d- q; C1 b) x9 X& H: L Feeling small and insignificant
! M) H- H4 S+ O But ultimately recognizing
7 h- e, a8 K5 |$ b/ L3 n0 D That who we are meant to be
6 t0 s% d/ E3 X3 Z4 F Can never be measured in isolation
& L' _! B( }0 {, H on a path into ourselves.
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# E2 E( I8 W! k; a. B It is true then:
Our everlasting future
, Z9 Z2 D4 {" K3 p Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles
7 N' _, G; s4 Z Into the pond of life
) H/ j% n  T: Q9 y. v* j, t9 {5 u  L Creating ripples
; n/ ^, O+ N/ ~  d1 e$ l% y that leave unique mark on our world
( _/ D4 p  B1 n& T Not because of thoughts
not because of well meaning plans
) ^3 t- S9 W' G( B But because of actions.

9 I0 |% T+ T7 ^! C7 c+ S Our life's prayers our answered
* _4 T( i. }9 d3 H  a1 b Because even the smallest pebble
No matter how seemingly insignificant
+ I5 C7 ~3 ?  T4 Z+ h Changes the course of the lives
Of those we touch.?

And when the icy winds of death
: h$ x% x$ K9 \5 K: _% B6 R beckon our lasting attention
# ~0 ^& F/ s5 ~' t We will gently leave this life
With the knowledge that
# q4 ?2 {9 b- ^1 G7 J because of that one pebble
4 b7 Q( }: G* m. m. H0 y, D The world will never be the same.
2 P6 a9 S- c  W" L0 u5 d2 H
5 q# a5 V) J- j: O% z, N2 @ And then we have heaven …

7 J! k4 D( a( @3 S1 D& P2 R2 P Ross Rosenberg
1 H9 ~$ Y( l4 I 8/18/03