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.

# O7 i: o& i8 B; L+ Y 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.

( |4 |8 M: k% S4 q/ h4 h/ q Heaven
$ f0 {1 e8 W% d) Y: Y$ Q7 ~0 ?' I The pebble is worn smooth
Made small over time
A product of a cataclysmic force of nature
; \0 Y# ~' L2 f7 |6 f. v8 O A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock
# c# k+ W7 o+ _ An accidental offspring of a boulder
. t$ t6 e! l# {) @ But just a very small stone.
2 X' C, p: N7 l: y
! n0 \( w8 j: x The pebble's place in our world
Is neither understood nor appreciated
5 N+ ?- t: t" Y/ l0 p7 u- F( b: @. b% d But when thrown into a glassy calm pond
- [5 E% M" f& o/ g* H+ m. n% G. Z6 U Its insignificance is transformed
% a. P/ Y& l/ ?4 I! k0 } Its meaning and purpose is unleashed.
* T. v- Q$ D8 _
: E1 ~& u/ ^6 `: `  B& N The instant the pebble kisses the pond
  m7 S& k) G2 }" N' S( P2 X: Y Its signature of concentric ripples
8 A" y" l0 P5 q# U: s Spiral outwards
$ u  \4 L6 b' k) H! K+ g+ e1 |! S Moving far beyond itself.
Gently affecting everything in its wake
; N" k9 I) `- D$ r Forever altering the smooth placid surface.

% [1 e. s1 r7 h1 {# N The pebble creates its worth and meaning
, ?# j1 ]* N5 Y7 _6 q' c- s By unleashing its unimagined power?
Into a dueling force of action and reaction
Creating karmic energy
5 o8 ?. D6 w1 c7 h Producing lasting and fluid impressions.
7 I$ l% Z3 l3 R* D" X" w
# p* r* b  O# M$ p$ }5 k Aren't we all pebbles?
Feeling small and insignificant
But ultimately recognizing
That who we are meant to be
Can never be measured in isolation
  C, q/ w" ]$ w5 a; B, p on a path into ourselves.
3 u* ~, v5 u" d: W, X* d
. \) @: Q1 u4 b/ y- J; N It is true then:
Our everlasting future
1 Q2 c. e% D. Z! C+ x Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles
( m. c  r  R- R4 p2 o8 G4 n- ^4 p  k Into the pond of life
7 }' H: D& _3 y- ~ Creating ripples
. u0 }& E) G, \9 o4 T8 M5 g: \ that leave unique mark on our world
# g1 G5 U9 x1 W( { Not because of thoughts
not because of well meaning plans
: x0 x1 a0 d$ o% d7 U But because of actions.
! T' S' ^- @0 T; Z' W
Our life's prayers our answered
Because even the smallest pebble
$ q: i1 ^6 Q" ?/ w  M- w No matter how seemingly insignificant
1 W0 {! ^/ i) t8 w  X Changes the course of the lives
Of those we touch.?
4 r  B) f! ^& O+ Q9 ^7 N- w9 O- [. @
And when the icy winds of death
beckon our lasting attention
& s7 B2 w5 r& n3 a We will gently leave this life
2 q2 P. [3 N! i4 X0 L7 D! a- M With the knowledge that
  D  k" d5 |# z+ e2 u9 H& { because of that one pebble
3 V% S8 |2 U! Q$ t, N. ?- e The world will never be the same.
* U$ \+ J8 w2 d
And then we have heaven …

Ross Rosenberg
6 e. k% Z3 o& s; P# q9 d4 m 8/18/03