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.

% j$ ]' K& U. L1 o 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.

/ E% F7 c) `+ F! X Heaven
The pebble is worn smooth
Made small over time
! ], m7 e! p! K" T& {$ X A product of a cataclysmic force of nature
1 {7 L, R, A0 H! e A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock
1 B+ x0 j# c3 G9 ] An accidental offspring of a boulder
But just a very small stone.
% n' o/ Q" j0 |" z) x
# C; }, J# i- ] The pebble's place in our world
& ~/ w; p4 O! r6 r6 M- ` Is neither understood nor appreciated
But when thrown into a glassy calm pond
/ y, i" \5 o( W Its insignificance is transformed
Its meaning and purpose is unleashed.

+ f9 H$ {4 q9 m3 N The instant the pebble kisses the pond
Its signature of concentric ripples
Spiral outwards
, U$ x* T$ |% D) l; C Moving far beyond itself.
Gently affecting everything in its wake
6 V2 U! E) n0 a+ S Forever altering the smooth placid surface.
- O- F9 x! V- W5 t1 L9 K5 g
8 b2 P% {7 q; P6 w. \6 f The pebble creates its worth and meaning
3 F0 q7 ]' L# c# t: k2 Q By unleashing its unimagined power?
3 h" _/ r5 G+ \/ M3 b Into a dueling force of action and reaction
* c7 n; u% H, m Creating karmic energy
Producing lasting and fluid impressions.

Aren't we all pebbles?
. {1 a3 \( r9 A$ E' o5 l3 R$ ^9 w# S% n Feeling small and insignificant
But ultimately recognizing
! U7 p' b8 _0 }! b That who we are meant to be
7 S6 q9 d- X) l1 G0 w Can never be measured in isolation
% P2 S$ e5 M5 D0 R on a path into ourselves.
- w$ p' U2 x/ Z9 w/ a- t1 D
It is true then:
Our everlasting future
Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles
Into the pond of life
: s4 T6 u) J; J# @9 B' } Creating ripples
4 R1 O% f! c& h6 W that leave unique mark on our world
Not because of thoughts
not because of well meaning plans
But because of actions.
+ u4 s+ X) B& U0 P7 L* _: E! ]
  x9 @; T6 s6 D: d7 M" u, @) ]8 {" d! t Our life's prayers our answered
, \" j! a: O( T" k$ ^2 B& { Because even the smallest pebble
  m+ G" S7 _6 ], V5 u) S- k8 E No matter how seemingly insignificant
" J% e  O. x" }2 Q* o Changes the course of the lives
Of those we touch.?
8 H% {' F, I. W( V
And when the icy winds of death
beckon our lasting attention
. e3 f  P, ?8 |1 C5 v' r& ~ We will gently leave this life
With the knowledge that
& ]  T/ Y0 i  }1 U& r because of that one pebble
9 [/ j9 K  P6 s- H: F8 Q& g The world will never be the same.
& t" q. @* q: I4 F8 Z( o# [
And then we have heaven …

Ross Rosenberg
; P5 ?/ X' ?/ B) s6 L; M$ R( c/ J  _& K 8/18/03