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.
2 H& ~! z9 I( {( i6 I. H0 s
Heaven
The pebble is worn smooth
. d5 {: u' S* R4 I! M Made small over time
/ w2 @+ `) {: ~; @ A product of a cataclysmic force of nature
) A7 Y, p  d) z! k& T- z+ Q A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock
An accidental offspring of a boulder
- V( w. q& Q8 T: _" H But just a very small stone.
" d  N" N# N1 X# @% Q1 q1 I, h
. R/ {3 `1 Y$ ^$ \+ l# j The pebble's place in our world
: |# m* o2 F! `' \ Is neither understood nor appreciated
But when thrown into a glassy calm pond
  I: T/ o" r# Q* ?  s Its insignificance is transformed
) g) B# |4 P0 ~, {( w, O Its meaning and purpose is unleashed.
, N: y& y7 f$ g2 v8 ^( S# M" `
9 N" r2 f/ a: D1 q3 r. e3 u The instant the pebble kisses the pond
Its signature of concentric ripples
Spiral outwards
Moving far beyond itself.
Gently affecting everything in its wake
Forever altering the smooth placid surface.

% C2 p5 s4 l/ V+ l" ]4 l The pebble creates its worth and meaning
By unleashing its unimagined power?
Into a dueling force of action and reaction
2 E" m7 J( q$ r" t' R  w, U) t Creating karmic energy
Producing lasting and fluid impressions.

Aren't we all pebbles?
Feeling small and insignificant
/ r  x) H/ x& w, D But ultimately recognizing
That who we are meant to be
' J3 Z/ m, D5 e. B1 ]! v) s# z Can never be measured in isolation
on a path into ourselves.

9 }. e! L1 i0 s( L9 z/ a It is true then:
, K6 Q# C+ h* {1 b Our everlasting future
. y" `6 @3 V. k Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles
Into the pond of life
Creating ripples
that leave unique mark on our world
; R! n# o+ K+ D+ E% {; @% c Not because of thoughts
. N) h, n. p! m& i( ] not because of well meaning plans
But because of actions.

8 E4 H5 V4 ?0 R& k5 t% i" V Our life's prayers our answered
Because even the smallest pebble
7 e% r4 E4 a% E3 g& v2 l* b No matter how seemingly insignificant
6 B2 z$ X& E2 U* k4 E Changes the course of the lives
Of those we touch.?

And when the icy winds of death
; x) ]& @  V* O beckon our lasting attention
! y6 o0 @! ^, V' q+ U1 N9 S We will gently leave this life
+ P2 J! E% T4 p1 Z With the knowledge that
because of that one pebble
The world will never be the same.

And then we have heaven …

Ross Rosenberg
8 U" l* x1 T2 E4 c/ e 8/18/03