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.

/ c5 G* d6 M5 N( _* @0 _ 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.

Heaven
% k9 b1 X* X$ A4 z7 d# E9 f+ I  O; ^, v The pebble is worn smooth
/ c% `5 x, X' i! v6 [ Made small over time
; \8 C4 I7 h2 z% s  w9 ] A product of a cataclysmic force of nature
% a- s" s' G6 n+ w- o8 R5 j( r A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock
2 M7 I2 r$ Q% k2 ] An accidental offspring of a boulder
3 C" f2 x$ E* G2 l) p! ^# C But just a very small stone.

1 x% A- C5 T1 g9 L, j% K2 U The pebble's place in our world
Is neither understood nor appreciated
But when thrown into a glassy calm pond
Its insignificance is transformed
8 L- @0 ^/ v. t; r. \9 f Its meaning and purpose is unleashed.
9 @8 b4 h9 {1 c/ ?; K
The instant the pebble kisses the pond
- c8 w- ^6 g1 \% j2 `4 X3 E Its signature of concentric ripples
2 j) }9 f7 M+ o& i. t, \ Spiral outwards
6 h- X& X) T& b5 q9 W Moving far beyond itself.
Gently affecting everything in its wake
Forever altering the smooth placid surface.

) g: U5 u& m% e. V# B9 d, `+ I The pebble creates its worth and meaning
( Q3 [+ W" I* |1 u3 S% @ By unleashing its unimagined power?
Into a dueling force of action and reaction
Creating karmic energy
* [5 W* ], _' }, u Producing lasting and fluid impressions.

3 p" H  C' \2 q Aren't we all pebbles?
% N; f: O3 ]  s2 R Feeling small and insignificant
' z0 p  l9 z, v- `! q But ultimately recognizing
% B$ q. u7 K6 O$ }3 R; a% d* a That who we are meant to be
Can never be measured in isolation
) m8 {, u; A& l' _ on a path into ourselves.
. n8 X* F( z0 Y+ S, m
It is true then:
2 y# D! b2 D& ~ Our everlasting future
Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles
Into the pond of life
Creating ripples
6 R/ r, d' l' x7 b% G% @. t" Y that leave unique mark on our world
Not because of thoughts
not because of well meaning plans
, g2 q' g5 n4 i But because of actions.

Our life's prayers our answered
Because even the smallest pebble
+ G" T" I$ r+ W7 ~- } No matter how seemingly insignificant
Changes the course of the lives
' h2 b  @; N8 v' M+ f2 f8 C* q. V Of those we touch.?
. {) q" o6 q  ~5 x/ R' d
And when the icy winds of death
8 F7 B0 h! ^8 W  M0 Z. ] beckon our lasting attention
We will gently leave this life
With the knowledge that
6 h/ D0 M7 F& s9 ` because of that one pebble
# Y: z2 ]; l5 a: B The world will never be the same.
+ i7 L) d" P: Q0 E; ]' `
And then we have heaven …

Ross Rosenberg
3 |3 n! Q2 S+ F6 v  h! y, o 8/18/03