Heaven

khfacdgku

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.

% e! S. p8 h3 q5 h7 n 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.
- Q9 |# s6 Z( N; j/ g3 y9 B% V% {  b  i
* V7 `/ @* d6 ^7 @4 h5 r Heaven
The pebble is worn smooth
' v, w% Q2 d2 }1 \) R) ]) ? Made small over time
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.
2 D, I- ^. e3 d/ G. W
The pebble's place in our world
# C( ^& L% Y( @0 r  X% H Is neither understood nor appreciated
+ ~! l/ |! Q5 `4 m% k8 `" Z But when thrown into a glassy calm pond
/ v9 |4 O1 T8 K) N2 [4 d* t Its insignificance is transformed
+ K. m4 j6 ~1 x( ~4 w! | Its meaning and purpose is unleashed.
# I) t5 B8 n* `+ }. h7 w1 D8 x9 S" z
1 t$ b# v9 K/ z8 y$ g( b( X The instant the pebble kisses the pond
Its signature of concentric ripples
Spiral outwards
7 b7 }0 x3 `( t9 [; i4 l2 D Moving far beyond itself.
Gently affecting everything in its wake
Forever altering the smooth placid surface.
: k; M$ m) W5 R9 D' A( S) E8 O8 t" t
The pebble creates its worth and meaning
By unleashing its unimagined power?
" e: L4 b8 o: r. m% ?" t Into a dueling force of action and reaction
+ `9 Q+ `4 [5 w8 Q) S2 M) ~* m9 s Creating karmic energy
- I$ b% k% B8 |- g& q4 n/ E7 ~ Producing lasting and fluid impressions.

Aren't we all pebbles?
Feeling small and insignificant
But ultimately recognizing
That who we are meant to be
& n$ b1 m# B3 W Can never be measured in isolation
- h& D$ y0 g$ W! z7 _& j  h( z on a path into ourselves.

It is true then:
, l7 O4 C/ d: v4 B" ]4 }7 N+ p Our everlasting future
Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles
Into the pond of life
! V. h+ H2 p* I' _* O  X! \ Creating ripples
that leave unique mark on our world
Not because of thoughts
not because of well meaning plans
  ]5 M! ?  {8 |- z" i3 n- T But because of actions.

Our life's prayers our answered
& z6 v" _/ l6 p Because even the smallest pebble
No matter how seemingly insignificant
- @3 s% c, m, e7 Q Changes the course of the lives
Of those we touch.?

And when the icy winds of death
beckon our lasting attention
" M' Y2 H7 k. O We will gently leave this life
5 E/ W1 d* r7 g& u With the knowledge that
because of that one pebble
The world will never be the same.

And then we have heaven …

( j9 v! H* }* s5 q9 [* f Ross Rosenberg
% L5 p) m! _0 M4 g 8/18/03