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.

Heaven
3 \% H! @2 v9 h! j" z! ?% i/ D9 B The pebble is worn smooth
0 q* I6 g$ t; H  k6 V6 h# ` Made small over time
A product of a cataclysmic force of nature
9 A: g6 ?, q& \: t& O A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock
3 Y' L2 G4 H- a; w0 n An accidental offspring of a boulder
& a' _' F; m6 A5 S2 ~7 A) B- z/ \' s- L But just a very small stone.
& y2 c( o9 J1 q# s- q
$ {! @8 Q9 C# ?, ? 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.
0 `# p( c& W/ C( z2 G3 m9 O( A
0 G) Y/ O* L& s  L3 X) w/ i; E2 l The instant the pebble kisses the pond
: I2 Q3 E' s8 W. d$ u+ J& Q3 \5 A Its signature of concentric ripples
$ Z+ M  ^9 B) T1 ` Spiral outwards
% A/ @& F9 ~& X9 z5 s Moving far beyond itself.
! |* Z( \4 e2 ~. C! c Gently affecting everything in its wake
Forever altering the smooth placid surface.
) J  Q/ U' O% m
The pebble creates its worth and meaning
+ R9 L& w/ y! i" ] By unleashing its unimagined power?
& v. N9 \; t" e5 I/ }" d2 i Into a dueling force of action and reaction
/ {4 p1 Q& H: n0 O! d2 t8 ?8 I5 g) i Creating karmic energy
) W3 ~/ j! b: r Producing lasting and fluid impressions.
( D7 D) v9 Z) Z3 F" p% c
Aren't we all pebbles?
# W' E' l; c7 }: f# J* l Feeling small and insignificant
, R, _# M. @: [. | But ultimately recognizing
That who we are meant to be
+ z; h* L* i0 Z Can never be measured in isolation
on a path into ourselves.
1 y2 e# q" U7 x4 W$ O4 [
It is true then:
Our everlasting future
Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles
Into the pond of life
Creating ripples
that leave unique mark on our world
. z5 @. ?& E" U' j) F. w6 Y Not because of thoughts
not because of well meaning plans
6 ^* J2 [7 k/ v9 J, } But because of actions.
0 q1 c4 i& x" j- `/ u& w
Our life's prayers our answered
' s/ n, f! E& A5 ~8 @1 i Because even the smallest pebble
# \9 f: j5 H- V$ w2 m6 ?3 x No matter how seemingly insignificant
Changes the course of the lives
Of those we touch.?
3 J: g, G4 {, a. a$ T0 c! S
And when the icy winds of death
8 O1 N8 ^1 }/ ?8 G% p5 j, P beckon our lasting attention
, W$ L6 P% @: G$ x# i7 a9 J We will gently leave this life
With the knowledge that
because of that one pebble
The world will never be the same.

And then we have heaven …
8 o+ T. B' n% f
Ross Rosenberg
8/18/03