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.

$ K2 q3 h# p$ i3 _( k 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 O  [# q& _* C7 x3 `0 _
$ ?5 X$ [4 S# K5 Y9 O- ^% Z Heaven
! }6 C/ L9 N' \8 V" n The pebble is worn smooth
+ j+ w- Z$ D% U: K% i2 z5 ~ Made small over time
) S. M/ G- I! E6 }% b: G A product of a cataclysmic force of nature
A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock
& i/ a( y- @/ D1 d% F1 U+ h9 | An accidental offspring of a boulder
But just a very small stone.

6 g) j& U1 k  h! s; v5 \3 { The pebble's place in our world
Is neither understood nor appreciated
( s6 O' J. h3 _& S5 ? But when thrown into a glassy calm pond
Its insignificance is transformed
Its meaning and purpose is unleashed.
( G. n) j4 z/ e  W. H
5 B( B& E4 b" u' i3 l5 j The instant the pebble kisses the pond
. h1 e3 g: `! X Its signature of concentric ripples
; Y4 [8 N! d) g; @0 ]$ @( _ Spiral outwards
: x( Y: x3 |" o- q4 E" T# ? Moving far beyond itself.
7 a- y: Y5 S# G( L! d6 s$ | Gently affecting everything in its wake
Forever altering the smooth placid surface.

5 |" x: c; B1 m. z% e) h The pebble creates its worth and meaning
By unleashing its unimagined power?
8 A8 ^& F$ L' h8 L8 e# |; [ Into a dueling force of action and reaction
) e6 u  H# N& c  q  | Creating karmic energy
Producing lasting and fluid impressions.
% J  R. S; P9 M/ ~! K9 a
) c/ v& d; s8 ?3 V& k1 K& n Aren't we all pebbles?
Feeling small and insignificant
$ |+ D& W4 C3 {/ d But ultimately recognizing
; ^5 i$ |/ b* {$ p- P That who we are meant to be
) g8 u: `1 e. k) J- A Can never be measured in isolation
! B% j5 _# T# D& P# O/ R# ~1 y: g on a path into ourselves.

It is true then:
Our everlasting future
6 c9 V2 Z( ~% }: e" c Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles
  T  b& O( H  Z9 v Into the pond of life
Creating ripples
that leave unique mark on our world
Not because of thoughts
not because of well meaning plans
But because of actions.
9 Z2 F, y! W! i$ r1 G
4 a& Y( _4 [$ [ Our life's prayers our answered
1 w7 N2 o, M) @: B5 B' I! h  n Because even the smallest pebble
9 R. L& ]; r$ [- g! u+ G  m' N No matter how seemingly insignificant
4 F  b4 L7 D! a. s; m/ m Changes the course of the lives
/ x0 |; i4 y0 n" P! Z( { Of those we touch.?

- @. e1 e1 r* x And when the icy winds of death
  I7 b5 O" i1 i7 k5 i- t, F# O2 M beckon our lasting attention
We will gently leave this life
  Q3 D3 V# N7 w. ]9 q( ? With the knowledge that
! Q0 y( S4 h9 f; n1 I3 @ because of that one pebble
The world will never be the same.

! b5 ?7 v5 }/ T2 k# F6 P, j# h And then we have heaven …

# U+ U' }5 N4 b% u1 I4 K8 }2 O Ross Rosenberg
$ G( D3 S: e, C8 k  w) ?/ O  ^ 8/18/03