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.
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; s+ ]* k/ l( t5 @( H 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.
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' j; ?( \5 P; Y4 d$ b- S1 {( F Heaven
The pebble is worn smooth
: d! S6 ^$ E( F! R# C  b. U Made small over time
2 n7 Q# `$ @$ r* [% m' } A product of a cataclysmic force of nature
A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock
+ F# X4 _% l* }: D An accidental offspring of a boulder
But just a very small stone.

The pebble's place in our world
Is neither understood nor appreciated
, f; }3 l3 p" H- D3 a9 W  L But when thrown into a glassy calm pond
Its insignificance is transformed
Its meaning and purpose is unleashed.
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The instant the pebble kisses the pond
Its signature of concentric ripples
Spiral outwards
( b- w5 {  e, H8 m0 p Moving far beyond itself.
, F! E2 n! A% |" \5 ~, Y. E! A Gently affecting everything in its wake
Forever altering the smooth placid surface.
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& ?2 c$ G( C* t The pebble creates its worth and meaning
By unleashing its unimagined power?
Into a dueling force of action and reaction
# i2 J: H, U0 S( s/ Q Creating karmic energy
! M' \) [1 N3 E. T  k4 W8 V4 n6 Z- \ Producing lasting and fluid impressions.

& E' o, y6 c! h; g$ h3 y# W  ^ Aren't we all pebbles?
% _) B8 ]3 N9 G9 ~6 S- U2 J Feeling small and insignificant
! v& z2 Q# Y5 f# j But ultimately recognizing
4 \) v* Q1 T/ { That who we are meant to be
Can never be measured in isolation
# I& @9 E: \  z4 I8 M& ? on a path into ourselves.

It is true then:
Our everlasting future
8 V& O; J5 t6 M/ c/ C Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles
3 ?0 b' Q! V5 t9 |: e% D( H' x& q Into the pond of life
Creating ripples
  E0 W8 w+ s# q6 H$ F% z that leave unique mark on our world
Not because of thoughts
not because of well meaning plans
But because of actions.

: s0 j. T3 m/ f3 d, X1 a4 L5 e Our life's prayers our answered
Because even the smallest pebble
No matter how seemingly insignificant
6 @0 Y9 G4 p, j9 f: m& q& l Changes the course of the lives
$ [7 w) O% W0 R6 K# |; I4 U3 W6 K Of those we touch.?
1 l+ b$ E  u& \
And when the icy winds of death
+ Y; e  P4 E  L& q9 { beckon our lasting attention
9 s9 f" W- E+ e- W* j6 ` We will gently leave this life
9 l+ M* k! D) @& T, l. k With the knowledge that
because of that one pebble
The world will never be the same.
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0 n/ s5 ~' N% Q9 a And then we have heaven …

Ross Rosenberg
, N1 `8 j; }5 Q7 X7 a, f! N$ R$ X 8/18/03