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.

. f& Z7 j. [4 k( F5 G Heaven
The pebble is worn smooth
7 `, ~+ r! j6 m6 b0 x Made small over time
A product of a cataclysmic force of nature
* M: n7 a+ ~( Z9 A" f" J' ] A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock
2 X" S3 i) z% w: [" _ An accidental offspring of a boulder
But just a very small stone.
; L1 _' l9 ]- U' g
8 r$ ?* p# K+ D4 k' d The pebble's place in our world
# u7 G+ O  U3 {! V, J" _% c Is neither understood nor appreciated
But when thrown into a glassy calm pond
Its insignificance is transformed
; E0 y$ |  x1 U3 x/ E Its meaning and purpose is unleashed.
4 e: J7 n0 j$ Y/ ^. A; d
* c3 T5 L, x" ~, K- H& D% J* O4 g The instant the pebble kisses the pond
; z' k+ ~. r0 K( P4 i  T4 ?' J Its signature of concentric ripples
1 `+ \8 N- Z# u( _, c* C Spiral outwards
3 @9 S, L6 w  r5 m4 u/ v6 o7 | Moving far beyond itself.
; ~6 I% b0 I$ f1 z; M. G Gently affecting everything in its wake
Forever altering the smooth placid surface.
5 W! J1 U( |" V) y8 p
The pebble creates its worth and meaning
By unleashing its unimagined power?
  s3 ?7 t9 Y" _- x- Z$ [. O% Q3 f) ` Into a dueling force of action and reaction
Creating karmic energy
Producing lasting and fluid impressions.

Aren't we all pebbles?
) ]$ J' s& [! }/ \* g; g Feeling small and insignificant
! T$ `" _$ p& C2 y But ultimately recognizing
# \1 p7 L' Y2 |. L3 h/ k That who we are meant to be
8 z" f, j, C& c  m1 j$ y Can never be measured in isolation
on a path into ourselves.

0 W1 g8 T& s9 v& S3 X: ] It is true then:
Our everlasting future
2 R& Q- k) f( O3 B! w Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles
* }4 n7 N- I& g# }. n; ?( m$ d Into the pond of life
Creating ripples
& z, m: }0 z# n# z4 t% U6 I1 Z that leave unique mark on our world
! o; K+ D& L; Q: u Not because of thoughts
: _, T; p  x+ K, G not because of well meaning plans
& q4 e# l6 @  [# s; v% ~ But because of actions.
* e% O: s5 k5 l* r8 r5 n1 u
Our life's prayers our answered
Because even the smallest pebble
No matter how seemingly insignificant
Changes the course of the lives
# @  `* @# S8 f' O' S' ? Of those we touch.?

* I) ^3 C; w9 y, O3 [ And when the icy winds of death
) q0 u8 Q5 Z1 ~' c) x7 V beckon our lasting attention
We will gently leave this life
6 U, X/ c4 K; Y+ s" s6 z With the knowledge that
2 J+ c1 c- Y% G8 f! U6 e" [6 e$ L because of that one pebble
The world will never be the same.

3 y+ N" K- Z4 D5 h% R+ i And then we have heaven …

Ross Rosenberg
8/18/03