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.

* U% w7 A) q# J; Z1 ]3 u  O2 \ Heaven
/ ~1 ?) p0 Q! T4 y* r. x1 y The pebble is worn smooth
Made small over time
A product of a cataclysmic force of nature
: \- ?- p  T8 \2 C3 ]7 d+ e A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock
, ]4 G$ V  G( r2 `# ^/ L8 S( U: s An accidental offspring of a boulder
3 t1 k# a8 V5 U1 [" B6 e  [% u) t' P But just a very small stone.

The pebble's place in our world
# \8 c& ~2 l7 u, {; W) T Is neither understood nor appreciated
But when thrown into a glassy calm pond
Its insignificance is transformed
Its meaning and purpose is unleashed.

& p, R9 q7 m6 w) @7 E The instant the pebble kisses the pond
Its signature of concentric ripples
Spiral outwards
Moving far beyond itself.
5 g: u0 v+ k: R3 _! q: o* r: j! t Gently affecting everything in its wake
& x8 i6 g- r6 K/ H. ^- s Forever altering the smooth placid surface.

, v4 N. B2 g: Y6 q. e  \ The pebble creates its worth and meaning
* Y+ h; M6 H) B$ N+ X3 W8 _ By unleashing its unimagined power?
Into a dueling force of action and reaction
& n3 D- [4 W: l1 i Creating karmic energy
- T6 v7 x% a5 R- g% j. L3 r1 | Producing lasting and fluid impressions.

4 R6 E9 ^. l# n* R* g. n' } Aren't we all pebbles?
Feeling small and insignificant
But ultimately recognizing
$ B- B& P, h. v; W That who we are meant to be
Can never be measured in isolation
) e/ Y  W# s& T+ L on a path into ourselves.
5 W" O. n: o# A. R
$ k$ T% u+ l& l* q It is true then:
Our everlasting future
7 C! t1 M% k- h7 V, e% j. e Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles
8 v$ \# S- F0 ?4 b Into the pond of life
Creating ripples
0 \8 D0 Z! ~. Q% W that leave unique mark on our world
# u1 H' i% s# f# v/ ?2 d Not because of thoughts
not because of well meaning plans
' [; w5 v0 q! l* B& ]3 w0 F But because of actions.
9 d; S6 g! \" q# Y7 b; _" O7 ^
Our life's prayers our answered
Because even the smallest pebble
; n  f' Z$ I, y, y+ y1 a No matter how seemingly insignificant
6 ~& P8 n4 P2 b# s: P8 q5 l Changes the course of the lives
Of those we touch.?
: ?( B9 d9 H* n
4 U+ e+ V+ D( x/ B1 ]+ e# z0 r And when the icy winds of death
1 O$ o1 ?, j3 d% V& c  q/ B; ? beckon our lasting attention
We will gently leave this life
- u$ V4 v4 b% W3 H( @6 W With the knowledge that
because of that one pebble
: L$ Z/ Z% I' L: [ The world will never be the same.
! T; U7 z/ K- X! P6 ^9 s3 O' V
( M. W# {7 K, \8 D$ S4 V And then we have heaven …

5 O1 w' I( `* E! P+ o Ross Rosenberg
8/18/03