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.
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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
, Q; b8 z, D# q, A$ I+ |$ ^2 j( ^ Made small over time
" M" \. T0 ~; G, b+ K6 T4 \( Q A product of a cataclysmic force of nature
2 [8 d% f# f) F# I9 a+ v) h A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock
An accidental offspring of a boulder
1 B' L" j0 Q. N' R- V But just a very small stone.
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5 g; k" V$ p" f, e The pebble's place in our world
Is neither understood nor appreciated
% ^' A/ C/ g8 K9 ` But when thrown into a glassy calm pond
6 E. F, [3 g: T- y  G8 G Its insignificance is transformed
Its meaning and purpose is unleashed.

The instant the pebble kisses the pond
Its signature of concentric ripples
, h. [) d. f, w0 v: Q Spiral outwards
9 `3 n/ V) o6 s8 ]8 h. L$ p Moving far beyond itself.
Gently affecting everything in its wake
Forever altering the smooth placid surface.
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/ d- ?+ x; {4 X- X The pebble creates its worth and meaning
4 D0 b5 n0 g1 x; S By unleashing its unimagined power?
Into a dueling force of action and reaction
7 ?3 \( w: d7 J; i8 N Creating karmic energy
Producing lasting and fluid impressions.
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6 @( M$ V) [3 y/ } Aren't we all pebbles?
8 B: q* v2 d$ ]* ~. ? Feeling small and insignificant
But ultimately recognizing
, Z: v6 A. ]: u; r2 r That who we are meant to be
8 g0 @; m$ S' A! n. @3 j Can never be measured in isolation
on a path into ourselves.

* V8 m$ m' o; b' x. u It is true then:
Our everlasting future
' f' j# i4 ~+ W3 z! e8 K6 I Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles
Into the pond of life
6 O& L: n  d. S% a. M% x Creating ripples
that leave unique mark on our world
( n2 l, b3 J5 p8 l% F Not because of thoughts
$ Q% G6 l/ u% d: n not because of well meaning plans
But because of actions.
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  I5 _0 |5 y# Y Our life's prayers our answered
Because even the smallest pebble
4 ^4 q. T- }( c  q3 [" X5 E: P: B No matter how seemingly insignificant
Changes the course of the lives
: p1 `/ K' p0 }8 z* ]4 K3 G* {# B+ i Of those we touch.?
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And when the icy winds of death
6 O/ J1 v, G6 x- q% _ beckon our lasting attention
We will gently leave this life
* \7 h% ]4 f+ z$ L) k; ^! D With the knowledge that
because of that one pebble
The world will never be the same.

And then we have heaven …
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Ross Rosenberg
8/18/03