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.

4 m7 \9 e' j7 e; U) `6 R Heaven
The pebble is worn smooth
Made small over time
5 N) U4 _( ]2 S5 c4 n A product of a cataclysmic force of nature
; }+ `* Z& t' l3 ?6 t0 Y. Y A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock
& `" H% U  j: V5 Q An accidental offspring of a boulder
But just a very small stone.

& ~0 T. E9 k5 e/ D5 O) ] The pebble's place in our world
; _' P& }; `: C- B2 q 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 W7 M. K1 c5 f& d. E The instant the pebble kisses the pond
1 [) |( u( X2 B/ Z% U# C  m Its signature of concentric ripples
Spiral outwards
Moving far beyond itself.
7 L6 q  ?# I$ I4 ~  l Gently affecting everything in its wake
7 M  h5 M" H# M: d1 z0 F8 T3 a1 F Forever altering the smooth placid surface.
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0 u' C% l8 N- T  O! ^# ^0 m( G3 T The pebble creates its worth and meaning
By unleashing its unimagined power?
. z* a9 G( U+ }0 Z) z4 d) ?% C Into a dueling force of action and reaction
Creating karmic energy
/ v( Y, _  Q8 d! X2 u' J- } Producing lasting and fluid impressions.
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Aren't we all pebbles?
Feeling small and insignificant
$ w+ N& ]3 w4 n; {) w: A; W3 r) m But ultimately recognizing
" G, v; P) D) q0 r* v9 O That who we are meant to be
Can never be measured in isolation
- e1 k# }8 r3 ~ on a path into ourselves.
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It is true then:
, J5 i+ w( H9 h+ t Our everlasting future
& G% c5 V4 b  H9 U" d Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles
, S" i" g6 T. `" U- ]6 c( ?" K Into the pond of life
6 }% O8 e1 p: p Creating ripples
0 a% D9 t& F# P, i) B that leave unique mark on our world
6 I. a1 j: G: r2 S Not because of thoughts
not because of well meaning plans
But because of actions.

Our life's prayers our answered
% i, M/ c/ h- f( s Because even the smallest pebble
* \$ h, x4 `! Y$ j! F! m% T8 l No matter how seemingly insignificant
6 G& |5 R! |! C$ _9 X Changes the course of the lives
Of those we touch.?
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And when the icy winds of death
8 \7 X4 r5 p: c1 V% y) d beckon our lasting attention
We will gently leave this life
" `) G( i/ g, Q7 o' O' ? With the knowledge that
5 F2 c* A1 g# \0 c because of that one pebble
& S! f5 D! ~0 ]- E The world will never be the same.
6 u- n5 p2 U9 g/ y( j% ^
And then we have heaven …
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+ Z: Z5 ^9 ^/ B3 X  ] Ross Rosenberg
8/18/03