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.
: C1 B( T/ n5 s. {0 c% |
) O" f4 F% g; D# L& _& c: N Heaven
The pebble is worn smooth
3 d9 l# Z+ K9 X  v, Y Made small over time
A product of a cataclysmic force of nature
A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock
6 M& _6 v7 J% o" @) W" I1 P An accidental offspring of a boulder
+ I" Z3 j, ~8 I& i) P4 f1 L) x& ]7 X But just a very small stone.

5 @7 U6 N0 A: x, [; P6 C9 s, G The pebble's place in our world
Is neither understood nor appreciated
But when thrown into a glassy calm pond
7 n9 p+ S6 ^* f/ b8 |! A; _7 t( G Its insignificance is transformed
Its meaning and purpose is unleashed.
& V9 j; p5 ^  u
5 H6 F) N; X( X2 ?: t The instant the pebble kisses the pond
Its signature of concentric ripples
" t8 r& R" c+ o/ R' r! R, e Spiral outwards
Moving far beyond itself.
: g1 P/ ~, \1 G; ^ Gently affecting everything in its wake
Forever altering the smooth placid surface.
1 x% ~$ P8 L2 i) u' X7 \- A- |
' |; C% b2 Z7 ~ The pebble creates its worth and meaning
By unleashing its unimagined power?
Into a dueling force of action and reaction
4 s. L5 G6 e. {. d Creating karmic energy
; Q" N1 c7 D% C" r* M. _+ ^ Producing lasting and fluid impressions.

Aren't we all pebbles?
Feeling small and insignificant
But ultimately recognizing
4 D/ X- n% ~& T& p; @/ b That who we are meant to be
Can never be measured in isolation
on a path into ourselves.
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It is true then:
" }7 O4 E# v$ F  D/ e- j% x Our everlasting future
, v' Z) `8 f( m: _ Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles
Into the pond of life
, _" R- p3 K0 T6 T& U; l1 `" c" i Creating ripples
1 O, ?! p4 Y) l7 }! ^ that leave unique mark on our world
9 T+ y8 c" o2 V% g7 w Not because of thoughts
8 {$ g3 t: e8 U) f% D not because of well meaning plans
9 h  g3 M" V2 {+ ? But because of actions.

* T3 s. D6 [+ R" H& M4 O9 R- t Our life's prayers our answered
Because even the smallest pebble
) j' I8 y& r: _* K; A No matter how seemingly insignificant
Changes the course of the lives
3 s, E: i4 A8 Z$ f& G" r Of those we touch.?

7 _0 T: b# T5 B0 Z7 U% z6 k+ K  u And when the icy winds of death
beckon our lasting attention
( k2 x: h+ R; h$ k We will gently leave this life
0 m+ J" |. b- V: J( I With the knowledge that
because of that one pebble
6 S9 W: Y5 X3 o& H! P: U+ W8 F7 C The world will never be the same.
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& G6 _  ]9 P* n7 ^ And then we have heaven …

Ross Rosenberg
' f# y9 L1 n& K 8/18/03