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.

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.

( `! t; W6 E& S9 P  B Heaven
The pebble is worn smooth
# \( O8 e4 ?/ [3 \& X" ~ Made small over time
1 M" W. [. x# Z0 i4 K A product of a cataclysmic force of nature
A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock
An accidental offspring of a boulder
But just a very small stone.
1 m8 F# O( e4 d  b; u# y( E
The pebble's place in our world
Is neither understood nor appreciated
But when thrown into a glassy calm pond
Its insignificance is transformed
Its meaning and purpose is unleashed.

8 D8 T- Q" S  a6 t5 Z The instant the pebble kisses the pond
0 e0 A( I& F: N3 E" m Its signature of concentric ripples
Spiral outwards
8 U8 U, ?; S( |' k1 n Moving far beyond itself.
; z1 |# v, _0 G6 q0 d, z8 L Gently affecting everything in its wake
3 a  z, T' x5 {+ t Forever altering the smooth placid surface.
* N3 k8 l( D$ y; g
The pebble creates its worth and meaning
2 i" Q  ?7 f. k( I7 Z4 f By unleashing its unimagined power?
4 `* ^/ ~& Q  R: ~ Into a dueling force of action and reaction
6 A7 [. n( i9 J; C) G5 w1 H8 V) _ Creating karmic energy
- [  z* w6 i  Z4 I) g6 L, G Producing lasting and fluid impressions.

Aren't we all pebbles?
Feeling small and insignificant
But ultimately recognizing
That who we are meant to be
Can never be measured in isolation
6 Q2 [' v; [5 O& N on a path into ourselves.

8 y: h% U8 X) h( {! c It is true then:
Our everlasting future
$ e* y# O% ~- j2 D% M: W4 u2 V Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles
4 `2 M! P3 R( o4 o  Q9 F3 H, c Into the pond of life
; F0 ?8 s7 _1 j Creating ripples
3 X- T+ A# \, A1 {- o that leave unique mark on our world
: d. z, j* i  s( [ Not because of thoughts
( c5 `4 m' Q- @$ E not because of well meaning plans
  a: u  q, I/ Q3 ^& F But because of actions.
" T& L& y2 W, K( ~4 m
2 s. ^3 ?5 O/ I4 o& @6 I; X Our life's prayers our answered
Because even the smallest pebble
: D$ x" l* _1 B No matter how seemingly insignificant
5 g& G8 g5 b; A3 J2 U& u# @ Changes the course of the lives
9 @' g  B+ B# t; @4 |9 N# } Of those we touch.?
5 f( ]% }# `+ m: b
And when the icy winds of death
beckon our lasting attention
; X5 }/ E1 c: m2 T) S( D We will gently leave this life
1 y' K. H0 j$ `/ `2 U6 }; r With the knowledge that
" Q7 U8 }6 b. s7 N+ a, y because of that one pebble
The world will never be the same.

And then we have heaven …
. K  }  [8 j! s
( U: s' G9 P3 p0 m7 L" { Ross Rosenberg
9 `. R3 D, @7 e+ g2 | 8/18/03