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.

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.

5 z" c5 Q# j% c# u Heaven
The pebble is worn smooth
' y# n7 d1 Q( b' T4 g Made small over time
, L" y' g7 N: Y9 `. U; q- i  d A product of a cataclysmic force of nature
) @# Q9 v0 K7 C: d7 B" O+ M A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock
  l- i/ H  O3 b" X' z/ t An accidental offspring of a boulder
+ G1 X1 R  U* r) _% F$ x But just a very small stone.

The pebble's place in our world
+ |- {% K' m4 S  h; i( G Is neither understood nor appreciated
" u$ o5 W; [# x4 k2 D But when thrown into a glassy calm pond
0 b* z1 w9 D  f, q0 @ Its insignificance is transformed
& v6 h0 a' i2 Y+ ~8 z4 N" ` Its meaning and purpose is unleashed.
, ], ~9 w5 ]% g% k% y
0 N. O% v" O% z' P3 S7 r* D% v3 z The instant the pebble kisses the pond
Its signature of concentric ripples
Spiral outwards
5 p; d* G2 O7 F9 ^4 D2 H" m Moving far beyond itself.
' b" }& w) [0 E- z Gently affecting everything in its wake
" V" J3 `8 I, E! ?; k( U9 g  { Forever altering the smooth placid surface.

The pebble creates its worth and meaning
* i, p1 h% ]& s& `9 L% y4 i% | By unleashing its unimagined power?
  C4 i7 }: _' [7 } Into a dueling force of action and reaction
Creating karmic energy
Producing lasting and fluid impressions.

Aren't we all pebbles?
Feeling small and insignificant
9 _1 x6 ]$ A, Z9 z3 {" L: m2 @+ t But ultimately recognizing
That who we are meant to be
% \; j. ?& r4 V Can never be measured in isolation
on a path into ourselves.
* q  o5 x3 _2 k8 w. Z6 ~
It is true then:
Our everlasting future
* a' k8 A" U1 R! U  Z Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles
+ X5 k+ @* C0 r  T( T Into the pond of life
Creating ripples
that leave unique mark on our world
8 ?& d3 Z, R; A! N% j* p Not because of thoughts
: S7 Z$ u- R* z* i- \! Z not because of well meaning plans
4 o+ V+ o+ o/ z7 S9 {2 c6 Y0 v But because of actions.

- L' g- ]8 ~+ {% c) N Our life's prayers our answered
Because even the smallest pebble
No matter how seemingly insignificant
8 A* _! d, x1 u/ W6 E Changes the course of the lives
% y0 v  r7 G" J# E Of those we touch.?
+ h0 h( x& j: E* a  k9 M& ]  {% Q6 k
( i' z. ]9 \3 y And when the icy winds of death
beckon our lasting attention
We will gently leave this life
With the knowledge that
% C8 q. |% z1 z5 d5 W1 F because of that one pebble
The world will never be the same.

4 W' K' x0 y% T0 b6 T" j# t And then we have heaven …

Ross Rosenberg
, Z4 f# d; W9 ^* O 8/18/03