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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6 L5 a/ l7 M% ]* ` 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.
, J8 [/ w# {! [( }4 C) L( e
0 r! x$ q% `3 S" f1 F9 R) o Heaven
The pebble is worn smooth
; _2 z6 }# u# \5 N% k Made small over time
2 u* x1 A2 S/ {' ` A product of a cataclysmic force of nature
A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock
An accidental offspring of a boulder
But just a very small stone.

5 h' |/ B; W5 n; ?" z The pebble's place in our world
8 R$ E. B" ]6 i- r- }9 ~2 D Is neither understood nor appreciated
; h, e  E+ J- k But when thrown into a glassy calm pond
6 `. B  u9 X0 I3 M( U7 p Its insignificance is transformed
+ ^+ P/ n, r0 Y% S# t, M Its meaning and purpose is unleashed.
9 a: z9 b2 X6 O3 }6 m
The instant the pebble kisses the pond
Its signature of concentric ripples
4 T$ x$ u& A" B; K6 M! | Spiral outwards
Moving far beyond itself.
Gently affecting everything in its wake
Forever altering the smooth placid surface.
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The pebble creates its worth and meaning
! _/ ~$ Q4 ?+ v' n; T+ j By unleashing its unimagined power?
2 B2 f  M1 ]4 b, e Into a dueling force of action and reaction
1 Y  N$ A% a4 D Creating karmic energy
/ K+ g. R: F8 H* M Producing lasting and fluid impressions.

Aren't we all pebbles?
Feeling small and insignificant
" V: t, n2 Q' b, u; k) \0 `0 H1 ]7 V8 c But ultimately recognizing
That who we are meant to be
. W$ p* f& L7 |( E, P$ b* V0 T Can never be measured in isolation
on a path into ourselves.

It is true then:
0 E) P* d8 B( V( `& W* _ Our everlasting future
5 I, S( o: I8 @0 p: I8 R# _ Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles
Into the pond of life
! J( X% B* E8 F$ } Creating ripples
. ~* V7 j9 I; R! ^; Z that leave unique mark on our world
6 D% ^: S" w7 @  E. m Not because of thoughts
# [7 B# a8 ~* n$ d) s, U& Y not because of well meaning plans
But because of actions.
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( b. Z2 a2 Y% Y5 q) K1 n8 x, T  f Our life's prayers our answered
Because even the smallest pebble
No matter how seemingly insignificant
% V1 t+ e  l  H) X Changes the course of the lives
! D6 g% B3 t! s6 H: ? Of those we touch.?
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And when the icy winds of death
$ E: k+ v9 j! X/ q beckon our lasting attention
: y7 z6 s: b% F1 ~ We will gently leave this life
With the knowledge that
8 ^# j9 M& k: g& q! l- S* _/ K9 p% h because of that one pebble
: C" B; @4 V& z$ ]( j6 D( j The world will never be the same.

; s& j3 F8 N5 W# n# | And then we have heaven …

- b7 S% j: Y9 g4 r/ z' G Ross Rosenberg
8/18/03