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 }+ j" T8 a. [( N
: g( x( V* L4 [ Heaven
; V3 _; H8 V0 a, o* d6 e! `2 k' O The pebble is worn smooth
+ x3 f6 t& X2 g9 T, X2 f* q Made small over time
' m6 W: w7 P9 ^" a. | A product of a cataclysmic force of nature
& ?% f7 }0 p  k8 u$ U; } A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock
' u% }# Q4 B3 f) m4 v: V6 u An accidental offspring of a boulder
* J6 _5 ^3 X6 p8 }- a But just a very small stone.

% U5 b# M. ?. r+ x/ x0 C The pebble's place in our world
Is neither understood nor appreciated
But when thrown into a glassy calm pond
Its insignificance is transformed
$ i  m( y+ l$ s% |3 ^1 W Its meaning and purpose is unleashed.
- F9 ]3 H% D! `% ^/ ~* l
The instant the pebble kisses the pond
; {+ Q! U/ t/ c! S Its signature of concentric ripples
2 H, C# W& d5 Q# V# K6 d$ } Spiral outwards
9 }, j1 i& ^& m! B& u  v Moving far beyond itself.
Gently affecting everything in its wake
( f2 L3 b) A( S8 v2 K! a, T Forever altering the smooth placid surface.

The pebble creates its worth and meaning
2 A: r4 s0 @. p! d4 [ By unleashing its unimagined power?
Into a dueling force of action and reaction
; c& v+ B' _/ I, x7 G Creating karmic energy
Producing lasting and fluid impressions.

+ L2 o6 z3 E, u* ?$ y Aren't we all pebbles?
Feeling small and insignificant
) j6 E8 K# Y7 ]! L But ultimately recognizing
That who we are meant to be
Can never be measured in isolation
on a path into ourselves.
9 J, I6 T7 K3 c9 s4 t
0 `  D7 [( l; j, R- ` It is true then:
5 F% z8 S% \/ P  h3 O Our everlasting future
$ l6 t2 l& ]- p# f# d3 d! |1 X Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles
, t3 l2 H" [, L' |( r; G5 w Into the pond of life
  D4 g2 K% Q0 k Creating ripples
that leave unique mark on our world
Not because of thoughts
not because of well meaning plans
% q' ^- A" g# O; C6 Y" d But because of actions.
8 F# ^5 Q( k; d$ H$ Y" ]
Our life's prayers our answered
1 k/ f, c) s- c. c% E% s# p Because even the smallest pebble
No matter how seemingly insignificant
6 X  H- e8 g8 J. G; w Changes the course of the lives
+ c; U) z: \3 p( P Of those we touch.?

And when the icy winds of death
beckon our lasting attention
  _2 Z$ V% P7 w% W We will gently leave this life
& f" k8 s8 u7 X5 K, l3 x8 j2 {$ M With the knowledge that
6 {* H* ]( r; H because of that one pebble
( N) v" j, |6 B The world will never be the same.

+ D1 R' @; y, P And then we have heaven …

$ @' ]* b" Z! q% a+ j/ A1 U$ t, o1 Z Ross Rosenberg
8/18/03