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 G4 u  k) j* m2 u 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.

5 G" w& J: Q2 c Heaven
3 a: D/ U& g0 w/ ? The pebble is worn smooth
) k+ k8 X; j6 ]1 U% d/ J. K. c+ ]) { Made small over time
A product of a cataclysmic force of nature
A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock
) u: y9 y" F4 e An accidental offspring of a boulder
. v( x" B0 ?' s& l' c- f But just a very small stone.
& B( s' P, C' X$ X. @0 M
The pebble's place in our world
Is neither understood nor appreciated
But when thrown into a glassy calm pond
Its insignificance is transformed
Its meaning and purpose is unleashed.

The instant the pebble kisses the pond
0 d8 p2 F& C6 J: z: t Its signature of concentric ripples
  k+ J3 Y0 \6 `. Q0 T Spiral outwards
Moving far beyond itself.
Gently affecting everything in its wake
Forever altering the smooth placid surface.

The pebble creates its worth and meaning
By unleashing its unimagined power?
9 s% t$ B* U) Q- a) n4 d% { Into a dueling force of action and reaction
3 r* ]4 P& I9 r1 w5 Z8 L Creating karmic energy
Producing lasting and fluid impressions.

6 `+ f  |% ]" |* b Aren't we all pebbles?
Feeling small and insignificant
But ultimately recognizing
9 `" f1 r" l% B3 O That who we are meant to be
Can never be measured in isolation
2 L; b  S  a' {, V$ B* m' E on a path into ourselves.
+ G* j6 j0 ?  @
& A0 W& [" l( s' d8 n( b" A It is true then:
Our everlasting future
Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles
Into the pond of life
Creating ripples
' _2 o5 D( P, S- F( S that leave unique mark on our world
. J5 V- C/ m( F; x# m Not because of thoughts
not because of well meaning plans
2 T! l& E! y6 f7 \ But because of actions.
7 X8 w# B/ {0 w8 V1 a1 s
$ B* S9 A& ^, M& K9 ^1 C6 d' K  ]8 o Our life's prayers our answered
Because even the smallest pebble
' b* g; p+ x2 ` No matter how seemingly insignificant
$ W( h4 M) N3 q4 ] Changes the course of the lives
% V+ n; @6 n9 u' I2 C- A Of those we touch.?

And when the icy winds of death
beckon our lasting attention
, M/ z) @% y; |" [9 e We will gently leave this life
With the knowledge that
because of that one pebble
The world will never be the same.
4 a# @4 ~/ M- ?0 q' q" `! s2 B. h
% X" N- d0 b2 C, ^- n7 } And then we have heaven …

Ross Rosenberg
8/18/03