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.

# Q3 s/ X; c3 J! x 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.
, w' V- K: Z1 ^0 p% B4 x. T
8 C/ z) a8 M( g3 W9 r Heaven
The pebble is worn smooth
0 g8 H) h- |$ j) u1 t% ^" b/ ]9 { Made small over time
0 W# P6 {, R# E& w9 }  C A product of a cataclysmic force of nature
5 E) E( h3 l+ t A fragment of mountainous sheets of rock
An accidental offspring of a boulder
But just a very small stone.

The pebble's place in our world
  B% D) \4 [6 E6 s1 w Is neither understood nor appreciated
But when thrown into a glassy calm pond
# `% ^  M5 {, X: [2 R' D Its insignificance is transformed
# @( Z( a9 N7 |9 c; ^! S Its meaning and purpose is unleashed.
. @8 V6 t; C0 S. X! M4 u7 Y
7 A% O1 Q  e$ l7 F. M7 N" Q The instant the pebble kisses the pond
% X  S, C  A6 a( `8 ?- a Its signature of concentric ripples
Spiral outwards
Moving far beyond itself.
Gently affecting everything in its wake
Forever altering the smooth placid surface.
! ^3 B* K3 k$ m2 k, K7 s
% L" W' r# z% I' ^ The pebble creates its worth and meaning
" U) j# E% }& d( k By unleashing its unimagined power?
  _' h' \. L/ r3 P: V! h Into a dueling force of action and reaction
+ n, ?8 V# B2 P. L7 O6 y Creating karmic energy
Producing lasting and fluid impressions.

. S. n- n: b" I Aren't we all pebbles?
# \: C3 `9 H/ i; A, b Feeling small and insignificant
. o! c/ j) s3 G  ]8 U But ultimately recognizing
$ @/ G/ k% i$ n That who we are meant to be
Can never be measured in isolation
% S+ V8 p9 \$ a' o8 P2 B" N( E on a path into ourselves.
; D. Y* i5 T/ l2 g. O6 X/ C2 X2 ]# ?
It is true then:
Our everlasting future
$ ^; ~' @/ k0 | Is created by the indiscriminate tossing of pebbles
. n+ E0 Y- _8 R7 s: K Into the pond of life
Creating ripples
that leave unique mark on our world
Not because of thoughts
not because of well meaning plans
But because of actions.
# p5 _8 d$ W7 R, _; a% B1 ~
Our life's prayers our answered
Because even the smallest pebble
No matter how seemingly insignificant
1 R+ G/ c, W' m; d Changes the course of the lives
4 u. X" x3 a' j2 f! e* j Of those we touch.?

' ^; N- ]# l9 o4 D1 s+ b" I: F1 B And when the icy winds of death
1 }+ [. G/ ]% S beckon our lasting attention
We will gently leave this life
! r2 {1 q- B* ?+ v0 S With the knowledge that
because of that one pebble
The world will never be the same.
/ k/ S* }& D$ ~5 u$ w5 a
5 F% ^* q/ K) w And then we have heaven …

& F7 C! {, n8 ]( C* Y: T0 G# { Ross Rosenberg
8/18/03