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.

3 m) \, `# b; {: n0 C) g 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.
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Heaven
% G: a, w2 c0 i: } The pebble is worn smooth
% O. {: c3 j" ~' k! B, m# V Made small over time
  z5 l0 t  ?$ i/ K. t3 B3 b" D, U( R A product of a cataclysmic force of nature
A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock
7 F  t0 ~3 x) t% V8 U! u 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
! Y5 [1 U6 n2 x1 ]- n  {- i Its insignificance is transformed
Its meaning and purpose is unleashed.
  D; b1 E' H+ G! w2 L7 @5 E
$ p' T1 Y3 b4 b" N The instant the pebble kisses the pond
Its signature of concentric ripples
Spiral outwards
Moving far beyond itself.
* ^1 Z, R" ?$ B" v3 e Gently affecting everything in its wake
5 j& e) L+ x+ v9 d Forever altering the smooth placid surface.

  h* b) n( L# e" | The pebble creates its worth and meaning
# f+ Q% R# ^0 i/ v& |6 N% E4 D$ o By unleashing its unimagined power?
Into a dueling force of action and reaction
% r4 p9 Z" M' Z# k- M Creating karmic energy
% J& C  x! M5 B, o$ q& _ Producing lasting and fluid impressions.

( x( g) j/ [: y8 C4 f4 q Aren't we all pebbles?
Feeling small and insignificant
; Z* ~. ^6 m8 c But ultimately recognizing
0 ~. h2 C+ _2 s1 O' R That who we are meant to be
# Z) X$ b! J. M7 U* d& S. o2 Z Can never be measured in isolation
/ G8 M* ^9 k/ h: ` on a path into ourselves.

It is true then:
Our everlasting future
! n+ W+ [7 Y3 i4 o( b0 R) }  e! g Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles
Into the pond of life
6 m0 u& v7 `  _3 Q4 Y+ G3 p Creating ripples
+ F4 i  ^/ J* I5 f) N that leave unique mark on our world
0 U$ |* l% x* g) ]/ r Not because of thoughts
* d# C' W& s, ~$ E not because of well meaning plans
But because of actions.

9 b4 `# Y9 J9 w. V2 q Our life's prayers our answered
- V/ c6 p* X. ?& g1 E: `3 ]3 b- @& B  U Because even the smallest pebble
4 J9 C* b1 a0 s  q2 }. ]) ^/ J No matter how seemingly insignificant
Changes the course of the lives
5 u5 V" b) `( A: n! R/ o Of those we touch.?

And when the icy winds of death
0 M7 ?) c% A: o& q3 Y" J beckon our lasting attention
, T4 g/ J: J2 h+ _) W' T  J6 g We will gently leave this life
6 ~* Z1 ^' h# f: {7 H# W With the knowledge that
because of that one pebble
6 z9 M5 |* b' u! a2 m The world will never be the same.

" `; [+ ~" [* T( P And then we have heaven …
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  R: q& l7 c9 ] Ross Rosenberg
! [/ G3 {5 W& Q. P  q 8/18/03