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.

# G* r3 B, b6 V3 T: \# n9 a* E 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.
9 H- {; o$ O  U/ ^9 {
- \, a1 r  d( \; G Heaven
/ x4 }' F+ a2 x8 v4 `2 f The pebble is worn smooth
Made small over time
9 y; n$ J. k, `9 e  }* h A product of a cataclysmic force of nature
" @% H3 ?2 G; R% n, u* N: X A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock
An accidental offspring of a boulder
4 j' @! G/ a4 M3 r/ o But just a very small stone.
% L2 l8 T- r# s/ y$ r+ k& M: h! P: l
5 p; R+ O0 c* p! j; b1 r. l. b The pebble's place in our world
Is neither understood nor appreciated
; R) ^. K9 ?) i8 w9 s But when thrown into a glassy calm pond
) Y, o, C' S, p Its insignificance is transformed
! [3 t0 d5 f+ O( t" N Its meaning and purpose is unleashed.

' _# u6 ^) j- J% F) |( g- s The instant the pebble kisses the pond
8 Z% K* l+ j$ y; x Its signature of concentric ripples
* c8 n! _; _. i Spiral outwards
$ x. u" R% @- w# O' Y Moving far beyond itself.
Gently affecting everything in its wake
% n: y% X0 j' S5 Q2 U Forever altering the smooth placid surface.
" Q% O; u' X6 |$ E" p
8 q3 n! {+ t4 f; ?! a" T+ j The pebble creates its worth and meaning
2 a7 E' S9 Y* d! E& p( F! Z By unleashing its unimagined power?
Into a dueling force of action and reaction
Creating karmic energy
% G4 R. f7 O" d* p0 J+ m* g- l Producing lasting and fluid impressions.
; P  q' X" D1 q- n; X7 s, W
Aren't we all pebbles?
Feeling small and insignificant
  P0 W7 f. J5 r8 o) Y  g But ultimately recognizing
That who we are meant to be
3 x% ^- P. m( G4 w* y0 B, u; w3 V Can never be measured in isolation
on a path into ourselves.

It is true then:
- v; V  t0 ?8 g8 h' d3 z Our everlasting future
7 N* b. y' f* W' a9 E Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles
Into the pond of life
Creating ripples
that leave unique mark on our world
% E  y+ n: q7 G* j1 U, y6 N4 s Not because of thoughts
not because of well meaning plans
But because of actions.

5 e! p& F2 m: ]5 o0 w Our life's prayers our answered
Because even the smallest pebble
" O4 e$ ?5 ~5 o- v: N) P No matter how seemingly insignificant
Changes the course of the lives
Of those we touch.?

And when the icy winds of death
* U- l/ T! G. I* h beckon our lasting attention
" W. v" T( d$ N2 E5 [ We will gently leave this life
2 s/ ~% P# B$ U1 ^- P With the knowledge that
because of that one pebble
The world will never be the same.
0 j" Z# {" H  d
: f8 }- w% }- L% ]5 H" W8 e! w And then we have heaven …

Ross Rosenberg
8/18/03