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.
" N1 c, h+ g  g* [; |0 }
Heaven
The pebble is worn smooth
Made small over time
* F2 B7 j( B  k7 s! c A product of a cataclysmic force of nature
& g9 j% S( ~6 M" E9 y A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock
2 A3 J+ b% m$ i2 z) x. P0 ], Q) T An accidental offspring of a boulder
9 K; t- `5 U  Z' z But just a very small stone.
4 a* g1 Q7 p  t" p: c) ^, Q
1 ]" @( X: P; @! V1 i1 l The pebble's place in our world
  b* M- e& Y: D8 Y- v& a) A Is neither understood nor appreciated
5 Z  g4 @! t) a# }" n) ^ But when thrown into a glassy calm pond
Its insignificance is transformed
Its meaning and purpose is unleashed.
7 o: [2 |2 U7 f" X" x" C
The instant the pebble kisses the pond
3 v7 H, ?. l8 y/ l: G6 g% k* Q Its signature of concentric ripples
. i* b+ _3 H) i2 m2 Y Spiral outwards
! S3 f# d% m4 X) i$ r4 b! @ Moving far beyond itself.
- r0 j  V' O# ?& ]/ [2 l Gently affecting everything in its wake
Forever altering the smooth placid surface.

The pebble creates its worth and meaning
# n9 e3 v9 u- M, e) A0 {* o6 }' t By unleashing its unimagined power?
* z  J. _, U3 D" f5 _ Into a dueling force of action and reaction
" f1 r$ E4 g: k Creating karmic energy
7 A2 P$ ^$ V& M+ F/ H3 s Producing lasting and fluid impressions.

) b3 x. i) ]' ? Aren't we all pebbles?
Feeling small and insignificant
! E2 B# H2 i' k* E3 q: |; @ But ultimately recognizing
% R0 F4 `' `: G5 o1 C That who we are meant to be
Can never be measured in isolation
. `& ^( v, I8 s' T/ r; z on a path into ourselves.

' ?% b9 E, p8 q: U! M3 V It is true then:
$ S8 y/ h7 \& I) V* a( z Our everlasting future
Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles
. h; s% A9 }" w& F Into the pond of life
, \5 ^* Z) @, o8 D Creating ripples
% b* x& B( a/ }4 B/ ?6 v that leave unique mark on our world
2 Q+ ?5 R' O! l* F# E+ Q# v7 n Not because of thoughts
! \1 ?, _% b1 q% c not because of well meaning plans
/ f% P2 P" a6 L# M! k But because of actions.
8 u+ F0 D* P" v
! K, o& v2 Z2 P8 N Our life's prayers our answered
Because even the smallest pebble
# O: y# h1 D4 n+ b6 E3 y1 h No matter how seemingly insignificant
# o( N! k+ n+ a3 A! c Changes the course of the lives
Of those we touch.?

* L, g# J: T# C And when the icy winds of death
beckon our lasting attention
We will gently leave this life
With the knowledge that
: _& w# p1 @8 g because of that one pebble
1 k! O' |1 ?4 @! A! x The world will never be the same.

* r' a- R( E- m" ?% K. p- x And then we have heaven …

. a- v& q: y2 [. J4 H) ] Ross Rosenberg
2 C# @- `+ ~  q9 t, ~: |: A$ S* C- H1 k 8/18/03