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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# l+ M3 [8 x/ L) J5 n 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.

( r; Z/ s4 u( Z0 r2 }. j Heaven
The pebble is worn smooth
Made small over time
- H: f7 q* {, m5 w, b7 n+ u0 m A product of a cataclysmic force of nature
A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock
7 b5 {# h9 f" }6 X An accidental offspring of a boulder
But just a very small stone.

9 Y+ R2 c( a2 O; o The pebble's place in our world
Is neither understood nor appreciated
But when thrown into a glassy calm pond
Its insignificance is transformed
Its meaning and purpose is unleashed.

The instant the pebble kisses the pond
# W& u8 S: u8 N Its signature of concentric ripples
Spiral outwards
5 k- v9 B1 K+ G! z1 T9 m! x Moving far beyond itself.
( `* r* [3 _1 f# s Gently affecting everything in its wake
Forever altering the smooth placid surface.

3 i3 M6 {0 `4 P! r% T% y4 l4 n) T7 D The pebble creates its worth and meaning
By unleashing its unimagined power?
Into a dueling force of action and reaction
Creating karmic energy
Producing lasting and fluid impressions.
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Aren't we all pebbles?
! N" Q5 d/ P6 s' W) j$ U Feeling small and insignificant
( k5 z9 b+ G! U7 Z, W1 h But ultimately recognizing
That who we are meant to be
Can never be measured in isolation
2 C6 y; J7 `+ k; I9 d on a path into ourselves.

( F/ a5 Z+ ~' J' I6 B; s! Z It is true then:
/ Y1 ]) b7 D5 S Our everlasting future
Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles
0 a3 m- O" l/ t" N; z# f6 f Into the pond of life
8 _/ b4 X- o4 e; G; q Creating ripples
that leave unique mark on our world
/ f% Z' Y! \) l  d Not because of thoughts
not because of well meaning plans
6 V+ c2 J3 `/ a But because of actions.
( j7 ^5 [/ u2 g
Our life's prayers our answered
  `& D* I3 Q% m, t  C0 G  A8 l Because even the smallest pebble
( M% r" q( H. L1 |9 C* @# ?6 j No matter how seemingly insignificant
- ~4 b% K5 D  `2 U* e  ~+ {1 R Changes the course of the lives
Of those we touch.?
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9 Q, ]9 ?7 N2 M! P+ U8 V And when the icy winds of death
9 A" o- F# U4 _9 X beckon our lasting attention
  C" L# C" h! ]! `+ B: K, [ We will gently leave this life
With the knowledge that
9 o* C& b  Q. m$ G; v because of that one pebble
4 v. P! b- q: Z The world will never be the same.
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8 k# B* s$ L* P/ c; v* z And then we have heaven …
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% r. p. I0 ~* J! E' k- K- ] Ross Rosenberg
8/18/03