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.

3 [4 R8 d9 X0 W* G4 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.

  e) R. j2 g, K9 k  S1 p Heaven
% W4 @# C* ~' B( n The pebble is worn smooth
Made small over time
+ C1 N3 f4 D' S' A$ H# e A product of a cataclysmic force of nature
A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock
; l2 n& G+ |2 M2 f An accidental offspring of a boulder
' Q6 s, j) O; W% i But just a very small stone.

The pebble's place in our world
  ?- `8 ~% l' Y, V% A. B Is neither understood nor appreciated
/ v3 ~! X* @& ]/ o) g But when thrown into a glassy calm pond
Its insignificance is transformed
/ z$ t" q( O$ b; B  g- R8 x( k Its meaning and purpose is unleashed.
8 k% P6 O$ W6 y: m' Z4 E
The instant the pebble kisses the pond
# v% {' u4 ~, {8 U1 E  j* b% N Its signature of concentric ripples
Spiral outwards
7 L: k: ~2 X+ ^. T+ |2 [ Moving far beyond itself.
Gently affecting everything in its wake
Forever altering the smooth placid surface.
% {; e0 G3 O/ ^2 j3 K, T. G2 N" N$ |
The pebble creates its worth and meaning
By unleashing its unimagined power?
4 y  W/ u% l! [4 q Into a dueling force of action and reaction
Creating karmic energy
Producing lasting and fluid impressions.
9 }4 N: {7 d6 ?+ f8 {9 P
Aren't we all pebbles?
Feeling small and insignificant
8 m, O% K- r( m( i But ultimately recognizing
' w1 T$ L1 p6 N  u2 o3 L That who we are meant to be
& y9 l" \, a0 K7 J5 ]# G Can never be measured in isolation
on a path into ourselves.
& `( d. M+ Z: E, c" f
It is true then:
6 b# N3 P0 v1 ~" r2 D/ t Our everlasting future
4 ]8 u8 n. v+ |+ K Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles
Into the pond of life
Creating ripples
" [5 a7 D; l6 E2 G2 g' e that leave unique mark on our world
7 I- Z/ ]# z( Z% m0 J; J, J, u  y Not because of thoughts
% Q' u; z$ F0 l not because of well meaning plans
. k) x8 N. y/ r% { But because of actions.

Our life's prayers our answered
3 r' w6 R, S, Q2 G$ g& [ Because even the smallest pebble
No matter how seemingly insignificant
! E! A" z+ K% ^2 O, n Changes the course of the lives
: b- A4 R3 _3 R' o8 `3 H6 p Of those we touch.?
% y- [+ X7 T: X
And when the icy winds of death
* n' i  e# L( f' W$ E' z% x) C: J beckon our lasting attention
/ A4 Z( a2 u9 Q, q: Q7 K We will gently leave this life
With the knowledge that
because of that one pebble
0 N" r- Z8 O' W  j8 B The world will never be the same.
0 X' m& H  J# ?0 T
0 Z, T+ n; v3 _$ a" | And then we have heaven …
( v4 _9 _& c3 h8 a  [: n
Ross Rosenberg
8/18/03