Heaven

khfacdgku

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.
( j2 E$ k8 b6 c0 a* e* R
0 S8 ?3 Y9 c: d 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.
2 }% [5 N1 y, c2 v; v
Heaven
The pebble is worn smooth
6 N3 X; n* c& A" a3 o8 z Made small over time
& _3 U5 D2 i% q4 ~ A product of a cataclysmic force of nature
A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock
An accidental offspring of a boulder
4 [1 j- M' T# N- d1 G( B But just a very small stone.
& i8 o4 i3 p# C% L( \" D; _
The pebble's place in our world
. q  g( g$ T2 R$ v( g Is neither understood nor appreciated
; N. `+ I  p9 _% o  T9 N2 v But when thrown into a glassy calm pond
Its insignificance is transformed
Its meaning and purpose is unleashed.
$ C2 R1 K: Y# \+ F1 ~2 |
8 o! U, C6 H4 J6 X The instant the pebble kisses the pond
Its signature of concentric ripples
4 f' L9 {4 J' b/ z4 J" e& X Spiral outwards
0 ~. |# {% b/ R* B Moving far beyond itself.
Gently affecting everything in its wake
Forever altering the smooth placid surface.
; x6 w. q' B( ~+ A0 _+ G4 l' \
2 `( T5 [- R7 L% s  ?  S The pebble creates its worth and meaning
1 a7 L& b3 R' Z) s8 N  k By unleashing its unimagined power?
8 g+ m, p& n2 o1 c8 Y& Y; A Into a dueling force of action and reaction
Creating karmic energy
Producing lasting and fluid impressions.

) ]( v) v( B) Q$ V* V Aren't we all pebbles?
Feeling small and insignificant
6 a) o9 X8 q; ~$ o But ultimately recognizing
That who we are meant to be
9 o+ `9 \$ w* z; L* |; l, @, \ Can never be measured in isolation
9 S1 M2 [* D6 f( G4 z$ ]/ h# d on a path into ourselves.

+ Z  Z& n* t: `. [  ?" j' U It is true then:
' W1 I: v+ w- `" b; Q, Y! S Our everlasting future
' \; C$ B; q5 h$ A5 A Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles
Into the pond of life
) x/ ?; S4 \2 d# ~ Creating ripples
8 ~* E, I5 c1 E0 N that leave unique mark on our world
Not because of thoughts
7 P9 h6 g# z& Y$ d not because of well meaning plans
" j! y2 m% B& b/ K3 e7 L But because of actions.

' @% t8 i4 w/ q0 Q Our life's prayers our answered
Because even the smallest pebble
8 [2 \+ n& ]. K7 [% ]$ O) V No matter how seemingly insignificant
Changes the course of the lives
* J) `0 l' ~; m7 \: T Of those we touch.?
8 l+ @- i. ?, U% b' Z$ h: I
+ p! D( v, o2 k: i8 J% ?# r And when the icy winds of death
: o! t( ^6 W! G+ l beckon our lasting attention
2 _9 N1 u) c6 D We will gently leave this life
! l0 U% \6 I( }/ Q! c' ]0 ^ With the knowledge that
because of that one pebble
7 R' ]* s! _. C, E1 H; z6 v: ] The world will never be the same.

: V: W" w6 y7 ]4 r& p$ x. l And then we have heaven …

Ross Rosenberg
6 l4 a: L8 u$ ~( t6 W 8/18/03