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.
6 [& \- i. P  M- ]" U# G
, _/ y( i1 a0 A& m: m% L 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.

! v% f$ G7 x. r2 g( l Heaven
The pebble is worn smooth
Made small over time
; T4 A/ `# a, L  G0 u, s A product of a cataclysmic force of nature
A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock
An accidental offspring of a boulder
) G" x* d0 V& j# s" d$ Q But just a very small stone.

" q7 n* m' t: ~. [4 p3 M- C! g% M( G The pebble's place in our world
Is neither understood nor appreciated
& g9 P8 p# |2 S9 {5 a But when thrown into a glassy calm pond
Its insignificance is transformed
' s8 m0 R; U7 {2 l- C Its meaning and purpose is unleashed.
$ y% N8 |( i. s1 K0 s
The instant the pebble kisses the pond
, v. o4 Y/ e1 P: m4 L: X2 M  Q% Z$ U Its signature of concentric ripples
! f4 a4 \7 p( V. J9 S. n( u Spiral outwards
Moving far beyond itself.
Gently affecting everything in its wake
8 d7 A' p, n: e2 U Forever altering the smooth placid surface.

) z- C$ z4 a, p1 x. Z! m* g# w3 i The pebble creates its worth and meaning
6 E, {* P  a) g1 s By unleashing its unimagined power?
/ b! M- I% V& f! { Into a dueling force of action and reaction
Creating karmic energy
2 w# k" R- p' h# h! i# O5 F Producing lasting and fluid impressions.

2 [7 C- d! d3 w- h Aren't we all pebbles?
0 S  A' I$ T5 G4 }+ ^$ r( X Feeling small and insignificant
. ?# C; ?# Y  d! \  B; O* P But ultimately recognizing
) a( [( l1 A6 V6 r. { That who we are meant to be
Can never be measured in isolation
7 H5 s" x8 C1 z0 K" P on a path into ourselves.

3 Z* O; v3 }. p6 x6 i It is true then:
Our everlasting future
Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles
Into the pond of life
2 n, Z9 a" j: ~ Creating ripples
# u, G+ s% x9 f# |# q* | that leave unique mark on our world
5 }( b% R% D. _) P2 j# ?7 M; g- u Not because of thoughts
+ j$ r9 e' S7 X" D, `% q% Z6 e not because of well meaning plans
: e, }" ]( v) t9 c/ K But because of actions.
" j+ G8 j* E2 Y" x
Our life's prayers our answered
Because even the smallest pebble
* ?5 }+ N" ^' O9 R6 H No matter how seemingly insignificant
' M2 i7 q' W! P8 V) x Changes the course of the lives
Of those we touch.?
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/ I# @, Z# g$ m( K$ ^& d And when the icy winds of death
' X. F+ F; ^6 I& b7 M beckon our lasting attention
7 q/ {- q0 k; V2 Y; p: T We will gently leave this life
. o$ S. C7 r) X& R' z$ Q% Q, L0 z With the knowledge that
% A6 Z# z( I4 E- O3 B/ e5 H( Z) C5 F because of that one pebble
The world will never be the same.

And then we have heaven …
8 a. x. V1 E# C+ ?7 E
Ross Rosenberg
8/18/03