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.

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.
& v8 n& z2 C" W/ ?3 V& d
Heaven
0 i5 R9 t( {" }6 V( W, @2 r/ ^ The pebble is worn smooth
( \1 G- W) |2 G. b Made small over time
2 ^" K$ Z9 x7 A5 `& O A product of a cataclysmic force of nature
  U( L5 r/ P4 a A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock
An accidental offspring of a boulder
But just a very small stone.

  p1 T$ L! O9 q: S3 G' L The pebble's place in our world
% V8 O; A% e' Q0 W* E; ` Is neither understood nor appreciated
But when thrown into a glassy calm pond
. |4 |/ [6 |, ~3 r' h" ~5 Y Its insignificance is transformed
$ q% v1 R0 q$ T: w Its meaning and purpose is unleashed.

The instant the pebble kisses the pond
Its signature of concentric ripples
Spiral outwards
/ Q! e4 d) K5 y, K$ R3 ^8 f" K% Y Moving far beyond itself.
Gently affecting everything in its wake
. Q- {" W$ w& V- l2 J Forever altering the smooth placid surface.

The pebble creates its worth and meaning
# x6 {* G3 o) W. `# P5 ~ By unleashing its unimagined power?
- J& n: M/ N: @) B3 B& s, g Into a dueling force of action and reaction
0 e. p) a, K, D" H" p$ i" E Creating karmic energy
Producing lasting and fluid impressions.
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Aren't we all pebbles?
' ^( N9 d: X0 E+ ^6 a) r: u4 V Feeling small and insignificant
But ultimately recognizing
That who we are meant to be
Can never be measured in isolation
5 y8 L* U9 Z8 ~! d3 C on a path into ourselves.

It is true then:
( H/ C5 Q8 s3 L Our everlasting future
0 k: R1 Q* x- x' ^ Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles
8 ]3 M8 U& G: w+ R9 q. L Into the pond of life
Creating ripples
that leave unique mark on our world
7 c' x' \* n4 O- L5 e  V' `4 ]1 N- X) r Not because of thoughts
not because of well meaning plans
; Z. u+ e; l- v But because of actions.
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Our life's prayers our answered
  h. o0 B) c4 J" d7 }$ y Because even the smallest pebble
7 @' t3 ~5 X8 _9 `$ t$ a, \  z/ F No matter how seemingly insignificant
' x# s: i+ a8 [* ^' j Changes the course of the lives
Of those we touch.?
4 s9 e0 r- T, z* b8 O; C+ {1 C. K
) \: }0 k1 ]% |1 H. K3 | And when the icy winds of death
beckon our lasting attention
We will gently leave this life
! d) b: d- O  s8 E With the knowledge that
- E5 ~- C9 j* |# a; F because of that one pebble
The world will never be the same.

And then we have heaven …

1 s1 x6 v2 m% K Ross Rosenberg
8/18/03