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.

4 O8 x0 J" W9 \6 C' h& Q1 p) ^2 A8 _5 R 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.
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- N! b, o; w3 k) Q0 [; \' [ Heaven
( E0 x# A) t9 @: @) } The pebble is worn smooth
- m* ?! G/ y2 {; i Made small over time
A product of a cataclysmic force of nature
9 I+ k# \. P3 A9 g A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock
5 q: [+ D, M: e! i/ T An accidental offspring of a boulder
( w$ h5 J( r0 I. F But just a very small stone.

9 Y) l; c5 R0 s The pebble's place in our world
! Y+ q# z' Z: T( D8 v: B7 ]2 w' O Is neither understood nor appreciated
But when thrown into a glassy calm pond
Its insignificance is transformed
7 L0 Y4 [' j4 }# n. \& p Its meaning and purpose is unleashed.
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6 J( x; ~4 Y( }" O The instant the pebble kisses the pond
Its signature of concentric ripples
Spiral outwards
& q% [3 |" [7 l1 w* ^* A% c' | Moving far beyond itself.
Gently affecting everything in its wake
. `& {# H/ X$ Z9 p* S Forever altering the smooth placid surface.

The pebble creates its worth and meaning
3 X7 i2 G  p$ f2 T6 l By unleashing its unimagined power?
Into a dueling force of action and reaction
, p- e, Z! z0 f Creating karmic energy
Producing lasting and fluid impressions.

. k3 p5 F4 p2 @8 a6 a* q Aren't we all pebbles?
4 q. J0 Z9 g" { Feeling small and insignificant
But ultimately recognizing
' o, G" Z2 }9 m That who we are meant to be
* T( L9 s% W" e$ _- v Can never be measured in isolation
& [* B% n' q! Z2 Z$ l on a path into ourselves.
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It is true then:
Our everlasting future
; D3 Z2 `2 U% G& R4 R: Q Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles
Into the pond of life
+ P7 Q5 h4 `2 G  B( {% _$ H Creating ripples
that leave unique mark on our world
- z+ L; W2 I3 t1 q5 q: B Not because of thoughts
! u( H  J) H1 @+ f3 b2 I7 t; W2 E not because of well meaning plans
But because of actions.
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9 W. l! [) g' J* c; d0 u' F+ f Our life's prayers our answered
3 u3 _% p; ~" P* A Because even the smallest pebble
No matter how seemingly insignificant
Changes the course of the lives
Of those we touch.?

2 q' n5 s  f6 H' ~3 C7 Y And when the icy winds of death
beckon our lasting attention
We will gently leave this life
) k* c1 R$ H7 _4 Z! I5 x, }: J. @ With the knowledge that
because of that one pebble
The world will never be the same.
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# h) Z7 {' v& C% j And then we have heaven …
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Ross Rosenberg
! ?* \& V6 n3 c; X. c% n 8/18/03