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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, }% Q1 i1 o) \! C3 g# V 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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3 q, P; m# a8 _3 n+ ^ Heaven
The pebble is worn smooth
, z7 U; V) d  i. `3 H. E Made small over time
) x: T$ o$ ?9 X' h A product of a cataclysmic force of nature
A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock
An accidental offspring of a boulder
But just a very small stone.

9 [% q# U- p. h4 D$ ~! V The pebble's place in our world
$ w& v, ^3 a4 x1 J& ], l Is neither understood nor appreciated
+ j: h6 O$ f1 G1 p But when thrown into a glassy calm pond
Its insignificance is transformed
3 U% \5 L( Z  z. i' y$ K3 ~ Its meaning and purpose is unleashed.

7 Z  ]" L/ _9 d  C0 D- a# e& q The instant the pebble kisses the pond
Its signature of concentric ripples
Spiral outwards
1 c6 X1 \2 {4 r$ }' ]; ^' F Moving far beyond itself.
Gently affecting everything in its wake
8 x& v0 ]( m, V# r+ G Forever altering the smooth placid surface.
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The pebble creates its worth and meaning
By unleashing its unimagined power?
Into a dueling force of action and reaction
) r7 s4 P+ o+ j4 D Creating karmic energy
- h; E7 U' }) Z" P Producing lasting and fluid impressions.

Aren't we all pebbles?
Feeling small and insignificant
& Q8 D+ E0 `: H1 M# i- E But ultimately recognizing
That who we are meant to be
$ Z( P4 P1 Y( b8 ~) ? Can never be measured in isolation
2 a- ?) l0 N9 p1 O: U: o6 o on a path into ourselves.

9 D1 e6 f$ P9 {  B+ a It is true then:
1 |8 j  T5 u0 \  s! {. A# \1 _ Our everlasting future
Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles
Into the pond of life
Creating ripples
1 V7 f2 b5 d# K& M0 l* I that leave unique mark on our world
# `: ^& f0 M2 f( ~  W6 ]% A& `0 H  M Not because of thoughts
4 _( b* b2 g3 i: g not because of well meaning plans
But because of actions.
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Our life's prayers our answered
& {& r* Q0 N) j- Y; v8 l7 A# s- k Because even the smallest pebble
' b% v/ \1 p3 {' P. n* \* b No matter how seemingly insignificant
% u: O# {% z0 v6 V Changes the course of the lives
Of those we touch.?
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And when the icy winds of death
2 Z! K" ~6 _5 n0 S beckon our lasting attention
! G% i$ F2 P6 N& P! d We will gently leave this life
With the knowledge that
0 J  |, n# G0 s. k# C) Q/ { because of that one pebble
1 ?  k( q! i) i5 y$ I The world will never be the same.
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And then we have heaven …

/ }( [  Y! t" p% ~# c Ross Rosenberg
+ R+ C0 ~" e( h/ k3 i6 u3 U 8/18/03