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.
& F. c( f/ x8 L) u
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.
! U9 O5 ?. S  s  X5 E# Z% e9 j
Heaven
The pebble is worn smooth
) s9 x7 u( H7 K9 d2 A, X. j# \8 O Made small over time
A product of a cataclysmic force of nature
A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock
  h' ]+ \' C. \# Z9 @ An accidental offspring of a boulder
" v2 a& n6 I! G/ S# l! Q4 | But just a very small stone.

6 q0 }$ I1 k/ `* Z1 i; F The pebble's place in our world
; V. O* Z1 s; P% P- j Is neither understood nor appreciated
But when thrown into a glassy calm pond
! l  ~& M; Y( r8 J4 v Its insignificance is transformed
! o2 l5 X7 F3 @  f Its meaning and purpose is unleashed.

The instant the pebble kisses the pond
! m+ O7 K' o% ?- [ Its signature of concentric ripples
& r5 V! F5 _6 m& y$ Z9 v5 }* p Spiral outwards
& @) d: ~. @: f( G& g0 b, U$ x Moving far beyond itself.
Gently affecting everything in its wake
+ [. b( A- `: r  H0 K# _& j Forever altering the smooth placid surface.

The pebble creates its worth and meaning
. i/ k+ C" i" |% m By unleashing its unimagined power?
3 e' }8 B8 r( V Into a dueling force of action and reaction
Creating karmic energy
Producing lasting and fluid impressions.

' D0 T7 M& g# C1 B6 F0 R Aren't we all pebbles?
Feeling small and insignificant
% I* [* n; B- U9 o2 W! m' ?; K! A But ultimately recognizing
That who we are meant to be
Can never be measured in isolation
( n% S- r0 F' Y$ z9 W; p* d. T on a path into ourselves.
- ^! A" A" D& `
It is true then:
. e; F7 p; h5 g% y  B Our everlasting future
Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles
8 d, p% J% W+ \4 r( e9 ~ Into the pond of life
Creating ripples
* E% U1 s( l) d" B/ |: w) C that leave unique mark on our world
Not because of thoughts
0 F2 f2 P* w/ H not because of well meaning plans
4 S* R+ Z5 P& s But because of actions.

& [/ D0 c/ F; i8 |8 V# c4 Q& R. X% B Our life's prayers our answered
$ P' L6 p: G5 m; S7 I% V0 r) K Because even the smallest pebble
No matter how seemingly insignificant
Changes the course of the lives
1 K* s5 J4 N8 U0 e4 i Of those we touch.?

And when the icy winds of death
4 d3 {* a# M/ U" P2 w beckon our lasting attention
We will gently leave this life
With the knowledge that
+ |  G* t' u2 |1 v because of that one pebble
The world will never be the same.
5 r* i6 h# _2 D5 Z5 }0 L9 k! {
And then we have heaven …
2 p4 Q/ a; |0 h* @$ u! u7 B
Ross Rosenberg
8/18/03