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 @2 C" S4 h3 o2 {, e4 n7 D, G
' i% Y" K+ d$ p5 V9 T/ C# q 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.

0 F/ B" n+ M. }! V Heaven
The pebble is worn smooth
) c1 p- s3 c. N6 G+ f* U Made small over time
% b0 c) u# c8 |% j A product of a cataclysmic force of nature
% W: u* e7 M( i8 q4 t$ ?2 ] A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock
* {5 Z. H5 c+ \4 p" b$ b! y An accidental offspring of a boulder
But just a very small stone.
; L5 }+ W$ A! Z& `$ h% |3 m
- l' z2 ]$ z" @7 N# x3 h" r3 ~ The pebble's place in our world
5 a8 k5 l1 L, h9 T: I  }* U Is neither understood nor appreciated
& b& m1 S* V7 i; R But when thrown into a glassy calm pond
$ m* e& K7 e% y5 z4 V Its insignificance is transformed
# T3 a+ |: Z. R( l; N: a3 { Its meaning and purpose is unleashed.
% q. O6 X( G' A3 _; B
0 [9 P  n1 N2 Y" ~" Y% l$ w The instant the pebble kisses the pond
* e) D) f- T3 V4 c; w$ } Its signature of concentric ripples
Spiral outwards
. |5 ^) {8 a# n4 o1 O$ r' F0 F Moving far beyond itself.
Gently affecting everything in its wake
* }1 s; j+ [4 P% X& }- @. Z) C Forever altering the smooth placid surface.

- D/ g2 ^$ c; l4 Z. S  A- C, N The pebble creates its worth and meaning
By unleashing its unimagined power?
Into a dueling force of action and reaction
& @- ~- g: M0 b8 \" j% I/ o Creating karmic energy
6 u/ ?, M2 B! p5 r# m' N: m% @4 z Producing lasting and fluid impressions.
% H* y9 F# S7 j/ o5 L
! `* ~/ j* G- |! m Aren't we all pebbles?
! s& Q" x! y% c; A2 ^8 u Feeling small and insignificant
But ultimately recognizing
That who we are meant to be
7 ?! @' Y1 s6 j- y8 k  Q# X4 ` Can never be measured in isolation
: y+ |6 w/ a  m on a path into ourselves.
3 a! W" ~' m2 ?6 n
It is true then:
" D0 M# @6 I6 c( R- [ Our everlasting future
Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles
9 j/ H' e0 t; l  f6 {3 D" A Into the pond of life
Creating ripples
' Y. D2 H: E4 [1 Z# F* p% }- H that leave unique mark on our world
0 |/ ~7 n# ?% a2 A. s: }8 N7 d2 _ Not because of thoughts
not because of well meaning plans
But because of actions.
1 ^5 X: |  `, M0 \5 D
Our life's prayers our answered
9 Z: c' S& v5 ^1 J% M: P; j5 ]0 @ Because even the smallest pebble
2 w  `( ^/ P/ R$ ^& H No matter how seemingly insignificant
3 w% q1 y+ o$ ?$ b- t! `- b' n% E Changes the course of the lives
Of those we touch.?
  l( N! o+ N+ z! c' |/ N9 U
And when the icy winds of death
8 B0 n* P% x' T# ? beckon our lasting attention
! v8 i" t2 o% r4 |0 g. g4 Q We will gently leave this life
With the knowledge that
/ u! O; R5 |& o because of that one pebble
The world will never be the same.
. N* @- b. p4 N# C: \  G3 o
& v& ~7 m$ ]6 f And then we have heaven …
7 n; |$ s" ]1 a( ^7 C) M. l
Ross Rosenberg
8/18/03