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.

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.

1 R& [% e( O/ q" ^9 n4 H( y Heaven
' q, `: v7 L) m# o9 y6 L& z The pebble is worn smooth
3 A0 X8 ]3 A- p Made small over time
( ?4 b# V) n- [, G0 v. U5 X A product of a cataclysmic force of nature
A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock
An accidental offspring of a boulder
But just a very small stone.
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The pebble's place in our world
Is neither understood nor appreciated
) v  d2 T; ^- O But when thrown into a glassy calm pond
* ~3 o8 J8 Q4 N6 K* P- R Its insignificance is transformed
4 V- h! ], y: H# d! ] Its meaning and purpose is unleashed.
3 _# J2 J0 \' p6 ^: L$ Q3 K
The instant the pebble kisses the pond
Its signature of concentric ripples
5 j. A$ l( c% Y7 n# G Spiral outwards
& N0 q, k# m6 _4 S Moving far beyond itself.
4 c$ w8 @* ^+ {2 i" U Gently affecting everything in its wake
Forever altering the smooth placid surface.
! g. y  u7 z0 }5 a7 Z1 u
The pebble creates its worth and meaning
" Y4 t: W( V( z! u0 ~+ ~ By unleashing its unimagined power?
6 J" T  \/ v) i. G Into a dueling force of action and reaction
Creating karmic energy
# x1 v( A2 N) U2 R- h; L/ J9 l Producing lasting and fluid impressions.
+ n0 a9 b7 g. j' s3 Z
Aren't we all pebbles?
Feeling small and insignificant
4 s$ Q* f7 L) C6 Y5 b$ W, Z* H; i But ultimately recognizing
That who we are meant to be
- e' m! f9 P4 r6 ~ Can never be measured in isolation
! }$ B8 i1 \$ j on a path into ourselves.

+ y1 [- }% k  } It is true then:
+ f  ~' W3 }0 @" i2 ^4 I Our everlasting future
Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles
Into the pond of life
% K4 q7 l  V- {) Q1 k, K$ t4 O( I% Q Creating ripples
, F' [/ [1 `' t5 `' O that leave unique mark on our world
# Z3 t/ q) G8 k; z% f0 D+ Y% U Not because of thoughts
not because of well meaning plans
But because of actions.

5 s# U5 s0 M: t8 p Our life's prayers our answered
: ~4 a- G; }4 R  K Because even the smallest pebble
8 C0 k+ ]  C! \. c. l) ?" } No matter how seemingly insignificant
3 Z9 s4 L7 a0 ~8 |1 P Changes the course of the lives
3 \% c% t( e9 q Of those we touch.?
7 d( {/ @# ?1 F) W
& s  a9 d7 X, {9 M: |! e# x) |; D And when the icy winds of death
  R) q' Y/ Z1 M4 l beckon our lasting attention
2 n7 j. v9 b6 E( \" W, s7 n We will gently leave this life
% E5 `4 y5 A, p/ V2 ~- d' w+ E With the knowledge that
: f3 f: ]( h2 v% y' ` because of that one pebble
' T% x* o3 D9 c4 |; d The world will never be the same.
: s8 J7 H1 p8 H; c: j  ?
7 Y  Y; ^' a% D) B. Y4 m7 N And then we have heaven …
+ h7 O. K0 b" i. t+ ~; A# y
5 h2 i7 O9 j, x" b( d* n% H1 h Ross Rosenberg
8/18/03