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.
1 [4 Y7 \( [. _5 \" C# E
/ p/ G# S- @: S( }+ a/ A. f8 j Heaven
The pebble is worn smooth
8 t* e7 L8 c6 L% S Made small over time
+ k: |8 R- [# Y1 \6 I% q A product of a cataclysmic force of nature
! x# h% q/ y9 R  g A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock
- i% x+ V6 D7 C0 y# \: K+ Y An accidental offspring of a boulder
But just a very small stone.
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The pebble's place in our world
Is neither understood nor appreciated
But when thrown into a glassy calm pond
5 i+ l6 p; U( H5 V* e Its insignificance is transformed
Its meaning and purpose is unleashed.

9 @3 x/ v# V, Y$ }; m0 [! G The instant the pebble kisses the pond
Its signature of concentric ripples
' k* Y8 F* s9 ^' ]2 W Spiral outwards
Moving far beyond itself.
Gently affecting everything in its wake
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
1 e' [9 L" U: C Creating karmic energy
& A  x9 L1 i* b% Z Producing lasting and fluid impressions.
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: ?8 v6 b5 x& j Aren't we all pebbles?
: d% a& I3 Z# ]) w Feeling small and insignificant
' \8 K1 Q  i  Q, i But ultimately recognizing
That who we are meant to be
" k9 _1 B# {- t" q: l2 L" m7 F Can never be measured in isolation
5 V9 h3 N6 a% r* _/ J) W on a path into ourselves.
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, ?. p3 i- m& Q  S6 E% F5 ^$ r7 R6 O It is true then:
Our everlasting future
Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles
Into the pond of life
9 w2 G: p& R* l8 R! ~7 l Creating ripples
that leave unique mark on our world
6 F4 |/ i7 a# b& ~: Z Not because of thoughts
not because of well meaning plans
$ ^# `' L4 K3 H) K) p0 y. b9 ^ But because of actions.

Our life's prayers our answered
Because even the smallest pebble
. t3 d4 u3 r4 P7 x0 J6 n, Q+ M& y No matter how seemingly insignificant
Changes the course of the lives
Of those we touch.?
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And when the icy winds of death
: a% L/ C1 N, v# I& U8 t: Q beckon our lasting attention
& H1 a6 I, R) @/ b7 y9 V We will gently leave this life
) W$ ], I4 N8 |( }% J9 R With the knowledge that
because of that one pebble
The world will never be the same.
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And then we have heaven …

Ross Rosenberg
' ]+ X6 c$ ^( P' A$ g. Q 8/18/03