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.

9 _0 i9 q, [2 \4 ]0 y, C Heaven
The pebble is worn smooth
, t' F9 ~2 O. K: n  M7 X/ b2 \/ B9 [  r Made small over time
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.

" A" D- ]( z) e" u% e+ n The pebble's place in our world
Is neither understood nor appreciated
. ]$ w' E! F8 {  k4 j2 i4 ^ But when thrown into a glassy calm pond
; `! I1 i' i8 H" T; R Its insignificance is transformed
Its meaning and purpose is unleashed.
  Y/ V6 h( h/ P2 z
1 e6 s- W  `; R% j( \- p* f The instant the pebble kisses the pond
* X' J3 q) w8 M Its signature of concentric ripples
0 }2 K7 e6 n- E Spiral outwards
Moving far beyond itself.
% H$ E, ~) Q: D' C  S$ W Gently affecting everything in its wake
Forever altering the smooth placid surface.
1 C, W7 X2 `" y: J- k2 k2 r& j  l3 k; `
1 m; l: z/ w% H' Z The pebble creates its worth and meaning
+ U/ x; S. @# ? By unleashing its unimagined power?
Into a dueling force of action and reaction
Creating karmic energy
Producing lasting and fluid impressions.

+ k. Y# L: r+ O5 h5 W- |  Y* t Aren't we all pebbles?
Feeling small and insignificant
$ X6 K5 b7 @6 p0 s But ultimately recognizing
That who we are meant to be
5 s# D/ r# D# y2 y) h  e7 M" b0 p8 l Can never be measured in isolation
on a path into ourselves.

! Q7 X" u! v; x0 [ It is true then:
Our everlasting future
0 y7 i! t1 ^" c1 Y- { Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles
2 }! a4 B- N2 @5 C, ^6 Y- D' J" _ Into the pond of life
& j' v& t# {" X; h7 G. V. J Creating ripples
5 C- m, W! I, @ that leave unique mark on our world
) |- ?. H9 @6 B# g. C Not because of thoughts
not because of well meaning plans
But because of actions.
! ~0 Z6 [0 R! B0 M. k( y1 Z
Our life's prayers our answered
Because even the smallest pebble
- G+ i: z+ U6 M/ B No matter how seemingly insignificant
6 G; q. a/ V. ]1 R Changes the course of the lives
4 E# P: j2 V5 J9 S Of those we touch.?
) i3 g0 |; [% H# h" H$ @
8 S( P$ L& g! T# ~) ^! f And when the icy winds of death
beckon our lasting attention
We will gently leave this life
5 Y7 }: S" @3 ~5 T; [& g5 k With the knowledge that
* Y0 X) e- N% e5 u- b' w: W8 P3 p because of that one pebble
8 [0 m- v4 k& D/ u! ]  x1 d+ o The world will never be the same.
$ d$ n* K$ l4 p3 z+ l! f
" i& v& ^) x& @1 O! a And then we have heaven …
. b0 h: m1 r* ]  V; v1 z$ L
) n( H, C' ^/ r3 s. j Ross Rosenberg
8/18/03