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
: ?- s' R/ ]% [7 L The pebble is worn smooth
( u8 u" i/ g5 S8 y Made small over time
A product of a cataclysmic force of nature
# }8 Q8 e) b7 ]3 v# I A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock
An accidental offspring of a boulder
But just a very small stone.

0 K6 U8 b+ i" B: P The pebble's place in our world
' M( @4 i- r/ p; ~4 S& p Is neither understood nor appreciated
But when thrown into a glassy calm pond
Its insignificance is transformed
Its meaning and purpose is unleashed.
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6 Z# c! {& k) W) O4 t' E- q9 G' S. L The instant the pebble kisses the pond
, I- u( r6 N; o* \ Its signature of concentric ripples
$ ?. M* f$ e* f7 [8 [; R Spiral outwards
Moving far beyond itself.
  b) q! Y" z5 r+ { Gently affecting everything in its wake
8 c  z7 T9 j! y* x) m Forever altering the smooth placid surface.
2 |  e( \7 r# }" @" r
7 d0 t0 J3 v$ [5 @) n# a9 U8 a The pebble creates its worth and meaning
/ g( K9 z; [0 B# T: i0 { By unleashing its unimagined power?
Into a dueling force of action and reaction
4 V3 m0 x+ h3 ?0 t5 L Creating karmic energy
Producing lasting and fluid impressions.
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1 d3 ]: q! M; ]4 t Aren't we all pebbles?
3 d4 M1 Q* G( k. k* w+ K Feeling small and insignificant
7 P* g+ m4 z" r! J9 [2 F" U But ultimately recognizing
) M/ O: u6 p  ~) O! t: `" R2 Q That who we are meant to be
* Z& t3 g3 ]) c! T7 | Can never be measured in isolation
on a path into ourselves.
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It is true then:
Our everlasting future
; C3 L% a# x! X5 a' G) z% {& K Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles
( u6 c- y4 c8 E8 n& _ Into the pond of life
Creating ripples
that leave unique mark on our world
! L/ s) ~# i: c Not because of thoughts
+ q# |7 R6 H( I! S3 y0 {' @ not because of well meaning plans
' y0 n" ^3 ^3 z5 C But because of actions.
2 ?' u$ S! h9 a5 w: q
Our life's prayers our answered
7 w9 p) q/ w- R Because even the smallest pebble
) L" ]. w% r* q) @( P No matter how seemingly insignificant
, M4 X' p8 q+ P Changes the course of the lives
Of those we touch.?
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And when the icy winds of death
' I4 h/ C8 k; [0 a- r# b beckon our lasting attention
We will gently leave this life
With the knowledge that
9 p3 J7 F# s' \2 g. _/ f5 B; o, U. C because of that one pebble
% r7 I9 w9 y+ A, R The world will never be the same.
, i" Y  Y/ E! M2 j0 E/ R4 k. p4 D
. p4 R5 s; C2 C: q: C7 }+ w And then we have heaven …

Ross Rosenberg
8/18/03