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 B$ Z, j( r. x
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.
- u9 N  ]* e4 ?
Heaven
  [1 ]& J: X) I& \ The pebble is worn smooth
) f0 ~( H* j5 V' A6 C Made small over time
$ G5 i+ B0 F* A. p! `( L A product of a cataclysmic force of nature
A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock
/ e9 v$ W# Q% _ An accidental offspring of a boulder
But just a very small stone.

The pebble's place in our world
Is neither understood nor appreciated
But when thrown into a glassy calm pond
! T: v: \& ~3 Q! ^$ c8 y4 E% h Its insignificance is transformed
- B) {: {5 y5 R/ o1 K Its meaning and purpose is unleashed.
/ q+ J: J5 J( d- f5 j
The instant the pebble kisses the pond
Its signature of concentric ripples
4 Q- C& }6 h. \2 b) T Spiral outwards
Moving far beyond itself.
( p2 e) t# {) s! _+ H4 N Gently affecting everything in its wake
Forever altering the smooth placid surface.

The pebble creates its worth and meaning
6 t) j4 \! ~( E: _/ @ By unleashing its unimagined power?
Into a dueling force of action and reaction
Creating karmic energy
Producing lasting and fluid impressions.

Aren't we all pebbles?
0 c  n: G( H% Y! h Feeling small and insignificant
1 R' V+ X  ~3 j: x% E7 _ But ultimately recognizing
/ b6 b- A! m" s1 A That who we are meant to be
' v* ]# \. o* ?. x" g8 K* e Can never be measured in isolation
! k4 j9 P  ^# V% h on a path into ourselves.

' t0 }  B2 r' S$ r) P/ l7 k& r( J8 x It is true then:
Our everlasting future
Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles
, v" b! Z% f4 O* t/ s Into the pond of life
Creating ripples
$ k: @/ z+ T9 X# r9 \! _7 v that leave unique mark on our world
1 L8 r. d- o' i7 ]# Y  c" C; l Not because of thoughts
! v+ @  K* D  S2 M$ K not because of well meaning plans
But because of actions.

- n$ M) j* r9 G/ q% T Our life's prayers our answered
Because even the smallest pebble
No matter how seemingly insignificant
Changes the course of the lives
' L# B# K9 M" ? Of those we touch.?

And when the icy winds of death
1 e' m$ I6 y  E$ _/ j beckon our lasting attention
We will gently leave this life
/ x; F# x* y% k4 ^  b With the knowledge that
because of that one pebble
# G# t. I# A& f1 h6 ~ The world will never be the same.
' o+ w1 p( s2 X' Q3 s# a
And then we have heaven …

Ross Rosenberg
8/18/03