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.
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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.

+ z2 x& n& l1 N% b Heaven
) a5 Z+ @3 }" c The pebble is worn smooth
) \' S9 }6 O& b3 m% e4 N$ M7 M& _ Made small over time
A product of a cataclysmic force of nature
6 Q" j, ]2 [% }0 n A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock
  Q) U) e8 ^" N6 s( k An accidental offspring of a boulder
, f6 I7 v$ `+ F% a" y$ m But just a very small stone.

The pebble's place in our world
Is neither understood nor appreciated
  a$ b( O- P- g% R( N7 Y But when thrown into a glassy calm pond
Its insignificance is transformed
& _, s  P0 G0 f/ ]- I/ f, K Its meaning and purpose is unleashed.

/ N+ l  Z: B4 O! x$ {6 O The instant the pebble kisses the pond
/ c. N; j0 {7 d  _) w8 `( r Its signature of concentric ripples
Spiral outwards
Moving far beyond itself.
Gently affecting everything in its wake
3 J$ Q( W8 y3 ~' A+ | Forever altering the smooth placid surface.
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The pebble creates its worth and meaning
By unleashing its unimagined power?
; |7 T4 Z8 k, V/ D5 {6 U" d: g Into a dueling force of action and reaction
6 F: t' `/ \( @9 L- \& P" J Creating karmic energy
Producing lasting and fluid impressions.
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Aren't we all pebbles?
Feeling small and insignificant
But ultimately recognizing
That who we are meant to be
Can never be measured in isolation
9 ~  {( S1 s* v on a path into ourselves.
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It is true then:
( i" ^4 o4 Z" \: Q+ D1 a, f Our everlasting future
! z7 H" b; J9 P( E; v Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles
+ J. a8 n  b4 M. l: Q6 q Into the pond of life
! q; }% T( Y8 d' r Creating ripples
that leave unique mark on our world
1 c# O' A0 M4 v6 a2 Y" n Not because of thoughts
not because of well meaning plans
1 m& }5 i) ?9 |; h1 F$ `/ \ But because of actions.

5 X! ?" V7 R" k+ ^1 e: G- p0 Z Our life's prayers our answered
Because even the smallest pebble
5 i9 k3 t$ I8 p No matter how seemingly insignificant
2 T5 J, y9 A1 ^$ T- G2 a6 p Changes the course of the lives
8 P* h) w# I$ `3 ?- k Of those we touch.?

+ e1 z+ `) e! C2 E& f4 G And when the icy winds of death
beckon our lasting attention
. C! C8 h3 s+ |- O! g7 v+ y We will gently leave this life
0 ?0 f8 G7 i$ I, X. R7 b With the knowledge that
because of that one pebble
( h+ v" A, ?8 k2 r; Y The world will never be the same.
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% s3 Q0 k) ]; L, B' Z# z5 k And then we have heaven …
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: Q9 W; C. Y7 t  k Ross Rosenberg
8/18/03