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.
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8 W. E4 c( `+ F3 L- I6 { Heaven
: `! ~. D" g$ b9 _/ {: m The pebble is worn smooth
( z' X; ~+ X& Z& _ Made small over time
A product of a cataclysmic force of nature
3 |+ \* O; m% a% A8 O A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock
6 W$ W8 f2 ]( o/ g( j0 G1 r: Z An accidental offspring of a boulder
But just a very small stone.
( |( L" ~0 I, ?9 C
( B9 v  C' {6 S# n The pebble's place in our world
Is neither understood nor appreciated
But when thrown into a glassy calm pond
Its insignificance is transformed
1 C0 ?0 ]2 G' ]; P; J7 k Its meaning and purpose is unleashed.

- Y4 ^6 ^5 u3 `4 V The instant the pebble kisses the pond
Its signature of concentric ripples
Spiral outwards
* R3 o# H. B7 D1 K Moving far beyond itself.
, M2 d* I4 r! H) d Gently affecting everything in its wake
Forever altering the smooth placid surface.
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The pebble creates its worth and meaning
) X9 A) B7 i. F By unleashing its unimagined power?
Into a dueling force of action and reaction
3 y: D( d# t) P5 x! m Creating karmic energy
Producing lasting and fluid impressions.

! X& z  p1 ?% m Aren't we all pebbles?
+ `5 P6 \$ H; N$ [ Feeling small and insignificant
But ultimately recognizing
That who we are meant to be
  ]4 g: k5 [1 v4 i Can never be measured in isolation
) \$ Y0 V# m3 {2 v6 @% b$ d0 d( K% k on a path into ourselves.
9 C# e5 H/ h: E' m
. b# W; S- U3 |4 x It is true then:
. a/ Z* L+ a, _, t/ ]( C Our everlasting future
Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles
Into the pond of life
" _- c7 o+ O* U Creating ripples
+ s) L1 t: P8 d& S that leave unique mark on our world
Not because of thoughts
) u. K0 f. G9 F+ J9 H: r5 b4 ` not because of well meaning plans
But because of actions.
7 k0 z; d' T: e& j" ~; y
. m: z7 N9 t* g$ U Our life's prayers our answered
Because even the smallest pebble
( Q: @% m6 [# C  @: H No matter how seemingly insignificant
Changes the course of the lives
Of those we touch.?
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! W$ O8 L- d( c7 C0 D, h- I/ L And when the icy winds of death
- v3 h- v6 g8 K9 J, J; U( q beckon our lasting attention
. q  E1 e% c& V We will gently leave this life
) x! D" \0 R" Y- g: c) ]- f9 ~ With the knowledge that
# _2 K/ x7 |; n* v because of that one pebble
The world will never be the same.

And then we have heaven …
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% b3 Y: j$ h1 q* Y9 b, m* D* ]. P Ross Rosenberg
8/18/03