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.
- S# O$ Y1 j; Z
( Q- G. w: J3 }# P 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.
1 Y# o- E, ~' H3 h7 c: s( A
Heaven
0 x8 x4 G, J/ u* I7 ^6 R; z# I The pebble is worn smooth
* c8 B( h8 A* [ Made small over time
A product of a cataclysmic force of nature
0 ?# S+ ^0 I* c3 F2 Z5 @: d A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock
: E" Y9 R  s' S An accidental offspring of a boulder
/ h2 K# K1 p5 p) x$ e! X But just a very small stone.
7 a# N$ Y8 z' N  F% r# p9 P
+ H; o) H0 ?  {( `/ l The pebble's place in our world
Is neither understood nor appreciated
, g7 _8 j" X- m  t9 m9 _; h$ q' ^- g But when thrown into a glassy calm pond
Its insignificance is transformed
- K3 R- m; J8 k. R& p5 j Its meaning and purpose is unleashed.
& A2 [, P7 \6 N- Y$ X. l
The instant the pebble kisses the pond
) X( P2 s) R. \ Its signature of concentric ripples
Spiral outwards
& Z6 I& [% ?9 x3 {8 t Moving far beyond itself.
Gently affecting everything in its wake
Forever altering the smooth placid surface.
4 O& n8 O& f8 b, ]
7 y5 N! y# j& O+ u/ X The pebble creates its worth and meaning
By unleashing its unimagined power?
1 H9 l% s( Z2 E, p9 R% p Into a dueling force of action and reaction
Creating karmic energy
+ B; D! C/ g3 m! B" I0 A, |+ O Producing lasting and fluid impressions.
% u9 O$ u$ q' q5 J+ r
Aren't we all pebbles?
Feeling small and insignificant
1 F; F; ~: ^, C5 }$ y8 D But ultimately recognizing
, v: j( _4 Z/ U; R1 K$ G( B That who we are meant to be
Can never be measured in isolation
$ e6 \6 E+ v, p1 @; L* U' n on a path into ourselves.

8 Y$ V7 X; T( b. P9 Q5 u' B: f It is true then:
0 T' ~; H. j- R9 I* b) u- U% i) E Our everlasting future
* s7 B/ K; v+ r  ]) x! J9 M Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles
) Y( }/ a6 v2 E8 ] Into the pond of life
" [: W. U8 h: K, p$ R1 ~ Creating ripples
that leave unique mark on our world
. F* W8 Q+ h1 ? Not because of thoughts
not because of well meaning plans
But because of actions.

) H9 V) D5 i2 ?' ~- g Our life's prayers our answered
8 }* w# `- N1 B" R  m- o. { Because even the smallest pebble
No matter how seemingly insignificant
+ Z2 m  |7 g; ~& A) } Changes the course of the lives
7 l4 y7 X" e$ D5 X  [ Of those we touch.?

And when the icy winds of death
" z% x% F* W4 s+ p: V4 q* I beckon our lasting attention
; @9 F4 y% y0 X/ B* a& K( }; \ We will gently leave this life
With the knowledge that
# j! m* V9 n2 s1 ]- Y3 B. q8 Z5 J  d' w because of that one pebble
The world will never be the same.

  P, [2 B+ _  d And then we have heaven …
$ s% v! n5 C" |
. Y$ U# n% h' `6 t& s Ross Rosenberg
0 V: p5 y4 z/ m6 r3 {$ ^8 O, y 8/18/03