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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Heaven
The pebble is worn smooth
. Q1 |" h& d+ s" B, ` Made small over time
A product of a cataclysmic force of nature
A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock
) ~+ y6 ~# ~0 z* b/ h# l An accidental offspring of a boulder
! ]9 ]1 f: h' f* V3 M  D% { But just a very small stone.

The pebble's place in our world
Is neither understood nor appreciated
% X2 ^4 K, j' C: E& H% ^+ c& Q. U But when thrown into a glassy calm pond
Its insignificance is transformed
Its meaning and purpose is unleashed.
8 @% `; Z. g0 d
The instant the pebble kisses the pond
+ a' j" q- k, }% R/ U  m Its signature of concentric ripples
4 {. l1 p! U* I- u+ T6 k Spiral outwards
, p% P- g( M$ P: h! O+ Z Moving far beyond itself.
  \6 |+ |$ p! H& {4 b2 c0 d0 u Gently affecting everything in its wake
9 y! f) ~5 Y. S. ^) z- n Forever altering the smooth placid surface.
6 `% X1 {( o! R; o0 j8 F$ j5 U
The pebble creates its worth and meaning
By unleashing its unimagined power?
/ M3 D0 M- h: q9 s& W& N* ^1 s3 { Into a dueling force of action and reaction
0 Y2 ~8 R: o2 |$ m Creating karmic energy
, y9 b* h3 ]- }+ J Producing lasting and fluid impressions.
. j" ?6 F4 U; g4 U5 h5 Z! H
0 _8 G1 N9 Y& Z2 ]% X* U, H Aren't we all pebbles?
Feeling small and insignificant
But ultimately recognizing
That who we are meant to be
Can never be measured in isolation
; {) r/ g7 {1 {4 O6 s: Y on a path into ourselves.

It is true then:
7 y7 K# g0 W2 F3 r& B+ w# j Our everlasting future
- N/ N' a) C5 K Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles
Into the pond of life
Creating ripples
that leave unique mark on our world
5 n) |/ U, q2 x5 \) q Not because of thoughts
not because of well meaning plans
But because of actions.
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' I2 Q/ V. c; c! i! b0 Y0 p* ~ Our life's prayers our answered
Because even the smallest pebble
No matter how seemingly insignificant
Changes the course of the lives
: }3 Y. d1 n/ }- D! L/ r Of those we touch.?
# @7 H" D+ Q# p, @9 `
And when the icy winds of death
6 K  f7 I# M& ? beckon our lasting attention
; e3 o% U6 M$ e% K We will gently leave this life
: \( B" W* |0 g6 W2 x6 S) E With the knowledge that
6 [+ {0 o9 f+ e* p$ N because of that one pebble
: P; a  l0 \4 c) J The world will never be the same.

And then we have heaven …

Ross Rosenberg
  O$ m" }' T4 b! P0 U: u 8/18/03