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.
) @3 j5 N1 z% s; ]( g
8 \& t/ N; e2 O) R! C# O 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.
- H& z' m; h8 {1 U) R, N. X
Heaven
" Q- }! B) m, U" q# U The pebble is worn smooth
8 m* G3 J1 T1 E, i1 X Made small over time
( s% k8 O" z0 F$ f A product of a cataclysmic force of nature
. p; x% |+ U, c. X  {. U+ k+ K A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock
$ D3 R" X  S) n) K/ C. ~2 X. h An accidental offspring of a boulder
But just a very small stone.

' J" E4 d2 l% u- \3 t) ~ The pebble's place in our world
% k' W8 o' e' J+ P! _7 p" ]1 E Is neither understood nor appreciated
But when thrown into a glassy calm pond
Its insignificance is transformed
/ X  Y& z6 ]; K; G# ]* ^ Its meaning and purpose is unleashed.
3 S' l$ y* t' T4 {2 O& U
The instant the pebble kisses the pond
Its signature of concentric ripples
Spiral outwards
1 p1 M! ?* A# [0 g4 @& K Moving far beyond itself.
9 L1 ?% S5 u& q3 ` Gently affecting everything in its wake
% w; b9 j# @% B5 p Forever altering the smooth placid surface.

The pebble creates its worth and meaning
By unleashing its unimagined power?
8 M. A! |: o& g& ^) M! p% l Into a dueling force of action and reaction
& o& }' E0 M& m4 T* [' X9 x& G Creating karmic energy
5 I0 j2 s0 L! ?7 ?- n/ r4 P Producing lasting and fluid impressions.
9 D  d4 I0 ^0 @- K/ c6 j. c0 V) _
& ]" H* A: k$ K7 N Aren't we all pebbles?
Feeling small and insignificant
But ultimately recognizing
That who we are meant to be
Can never be measured in isolation
1 v; g- [! r3 U! J. w% V7 B) b on a path into ourselves.

, q4 D4 _0 h1 L7 S It is true then:
: e; J1 j1 @5 J. } Our everlasting future
) r- V/ C- a6 h4 o; U4 e* ~- k Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles
Into the pond of life
8 _5 }% K4 b# o( t. _5 n% k Creating ripples
- e* H! T; a2 Q# u( a& O that leave unique mark on our world
% }& q- ^0 g6 s5 ^. l9 Z& i. j Not because of thoughts
not because of well meaning plans
But because of actions.

Our life's prayers our answered
Because even the smallest pebble
! }' }1 v, a1 l" h* {- x7 o No matter how seemingly insignificant
Changes the course of the lives
0 ~2 Y/ o* @7 A2 j: E" F+ A6 D8 j4 } Of those we touch.?
# H$ i# l; U7 ]3 b  {
And when the icy winds of death
beckon our lasting attention
3 Z% c0 r& B, a! p We will gently leave this life
9 Q9 h  O# w( K8 v With the knowledge that
because of that one pebble
The world will never be the same.
1 M, y' |) F3 ?+ y5 q, Z
1 Y5 q2 W0 d/ n7 n" y And then we have heaven …
8 ^. W' l' ]2 z: O$ W  b& l% G
5 X" t; N, \- I1 j$ ?4 J! {# z Ross Rosenberg
8/18/03